Группа «Пеньяроля» в Кубке Либертадорес: один из грандов Бразилии, сильная команда из Колумбии и чемпион Аргентины

Peñarol will face a group without any overwhelming powerhouses, but one fraught with challenges: the dominance of Corinthians, the difficulty of playing at high altitude against Independiente Santa Fe, and Platense, which is coming off a championship win in the 2025 Argentine league. Below is a breakdown of the Carboneros’ opponents. Undoubtedly the toughest challenge in the group, a major Brazilian club and a historic force on the continent, with a squad valued at 155 million euros according to Transfermarkt. The group’s heavyweight plays its home games in São Paulo at the Neo Quimica Arena, which seats 50,000 spectators. Corinthians’ trophy case includes a 2012 Libertadores title and two Club World Cup championships. Based on history and squad strength, Timao is the toughest opponent. It is a very intense, physical team with standout individual talent and a strong home-field advantage. At the time of the draw, they were in ninth place in the Brasileirao with nine points after seven matches played. At right back is Pedro Milans, the player who left Peñarol in early 2026 to move to Brazilian soccer; he will face many of his former teammates. Memphis Depay and Jesse Lingard, the names that stand out most when looking at the Corinthians roster, played together at Manchester United and will face off at the Campeón del Siglo in May. For Peñarol, picking up points on the road in São Paulo could set the tone for the group stage. On the field, they are an evenly matched opponent for Peñarol, which enters the draw ranked 15th out of 18 teams in the Colombian league. They have earned only 12 points in 11 matches. The team, led by Pablo Repetto, plays its home games in Bogotá at El Campín Stadium, which has a capacity of 40,000 spectators. This home field advantage for the Colombian team adds a key factor: altitude (2,600 meters), which has historically posed challenges for Uruguayan teams. Independiente Santa Fe’s captain is forward Hugo Rodallega, a 40-year-old Colombian who, despite his age, remains one of the team’s standout players. The squad also includes Franco Fagundez, a 25-year-old forward formerly of Nacional who knows what it’s like to play against Peñarol. In the run-up to the match, this could be the typical opponent that defines the group. Losing in Colombia might not be a major setback, but securing even a draw could be decisive. On paper, they are the most beatable team in the group. But we must not forget that they qualified for this edition of the Libertadores by winning an Argentine tournament where they didn’t face everyone but eliminated top-tier rivals. Logistically, the most comfortable opponent for Peñarol. The Calamares call Buenos Aires home, playing at the Estadio Ciudad de Vicente López, which seats 28,000 spectators. Of the three away matches in the group, this is the least challenging. Their roster includes Uruguayan Martin Barrios, a 27-year-old midfielder who has previously played for Racing and Liverpool in Uruguay. Кубок Либертадорес 2026 года станет первым официальным международным турниром в истории клуба «Атлетико Платенсе». «Кальмар» занимает девятое место в группе A аргентинского чемпионата, набрав 14 очков в 10 сыгранных матчах. Если «Карбонеро» надеется выйти в 1/8 финала, ему нужно поставить перед собой цель набрать 6 очков из 6 возможных в матчах с аргентинскими соперниками. В конечном итоге, у «Пеньяроля» не будет невозможного состава группы, но это точно не тот состав, который выбрали бы болельщики или сам Диего Агирре.