Paraguayan football clubs have officially begun their journey in South America’s most prestigious competitions, the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. The opening week delivered a mix of results, with wins, draws and defeats setting the tone for what promises to be a demanding group stage.
With crucial matches already on the horizon, Paraguayan teams now look to build momentum and position themselves for qualification.
Paraguayan football clubs struggle in the Libertadores
Paraguayan football clubs in the Copa Libertadores, Cerro Porteño and Club Libertad, both had difficult starts in their respective groups.
Cerro Porteño opened their campaign with a loss to Sporting Cristal in Lima with a narrow 1-0. The match was heavily influenced by the early second-half red card shown to Cecilio Domínguez for throwing the ball into the face of an opponent,, which forced the team to play with ten men and altered their tactical approach. The decisive goal came late in the game, leaving the Paraguayan side at the bottom of Group F after the first round of games.
Meanwhile, Libertad suffered an even tougher setback. They played in Venezuela, and lost 3-1 to Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas. The defeat complicates their position in Group H. Also, it reflects a challenging moment for the team, which has struggled for consistency in recent weeks.
Looking ahead, both clubs face crucial fixtures. Cerro Porteño will host Junior de Barranquilla from Colombia at their stadium in Asunción, La Nueva Olla, on 14 April (19:00). The club aims to recover points at home, while Libertad will seek redemption in their next group stage match on 15 Aril at 19:00. Libertad will attempt to get their campaign back on track against Rosario Central from Argentina. With six matches in the group stage and only the top two advancing, the margin for error is already shrinking.
Sudamericana brings better news for Paraguayan football clubs
In contrast, Paraguayan football clubs competing in the Copa Sudamericana had a more encouraging start. Particularly, Olimpia. They delivered one of the standout performances of the opening round, securing a solid 2-0 victory over Audax Italiano in Chile. Goals from Rubén Lezcano and Juan Fernando Alfaro secured the victory. Both goals were assisted by Romeo Benítez.
Now, Olimpia is at the top of Group G after matchday 1. The “Dean” of Paraguayan football now prepares to face Barracas Central in Asunción. They have the opportunity to consolidate their lead and take an early step towards qualification.
On the other hand, Recoleta made history in their international debut. Playing at the Defensores del Chaco, the “Canario” or Canary drew 1-1 against San Lorenzo. San Lorenzo is known as the Crows, so it was a “bird” duel. Alan Wlk, former Olimpia player, scored the club’s first-ever goal in a Sudamericana group stage.
Later, the Argentine side equalised. The result leaves Recoleta with a valuable point in Group D, especially considering the calibre of their opponents. Their next challenge will be a demanding away fixture against Santos in Brazil, one of the strongest teams in the group, on 14 April at 21:30.
What comes next
In the Sudamericana, Olimpia will look to confirm its strong start at home. They play against Argentinian team Barracas Central also on 15 April. Meanwhile Recoleta faces a major test against legendary Brazilian side Santos on 14 April. This game could define its competitiveness in the tournament. Both competitions follow a tight schedule, with teams playing six matches in the group stage before advancing to knockout rounds.
A long road ahead
The opening results reflect the unpredictable nature of South American competitions. While some Paraguayan football clubs have shown promise, others will need immediate improvement to stay in contention. As the group stage unfolds, consistency, home advantage and squad depth will play a crucial role.
