Seven Draws in the Round of 16 First Legs: Copa Libertadores Sets a Record 40 Years in the Making

Rosario Central and Corinthians split the points at the Gigante de Arroyito and, without fully realizing it, wrote themselves into the Copa Libertadores record books. That 0-0 was not just another result: it confirmed something that had never happened in nearly four decades of Round of 16 play.

Of the eight ties scheduled for this first week, seven were played (the first leg between Deportes Tolima and Independiente del Valle was rescheduled for next Tuesday). And all seven ended in draws. All seven. Not a single winner.

It all started on Tuesday, when the Cup returned after the break for the World Cup. Estudiantes de La Plata and Universidad Catolica tied 1-1, while in Brazil Fluminense and Rivadavia could not find an edge either, sealing a 0-0 that ended up costing Luis Zubeldia his job on the visiting bench.

The following day the story repeated itself, with an extra twist: Platense 1-1 Coquimbo Unido, Palmeiras 1-1 Cerro Porteno and Cruzeiro 1-1 Flamengo also finished level, and in two of those matches the equalizer came in stoppage time, in Vicente Lopez and in Sao Paulo. Thursday closed out the round with a 1-1 between Mirassol and Liga de Quito and that final 0-0 between Rosario Central and Corinthians that sealed the record.

The final tally: five 1-1 draws and two scoreless ties, with Tolima and Independiente del Valle still owing their first leg.

A Number With No Parallel in Nearly 40 Years

The Round of 16 has been part of the Libertadores format since 1989. In all that time, there had never been a round with this many draws in the first legs. Not even close, in fact: in only four editions (1991, 1999, 2021 and 2022) did four matches at this stage end without a winner. Going from four to seven is not a logical progression, it is an entirely different level of parity.

And if you look at the full tie, counting the second legs still to be played (nine matches in total remaining across both weeks), the 2026 number already matches the all-time record of seven draws set in 1991, 2003 and 2022. The second week has yet to be completed, so that overall record could still be broken.

The Sudamericana, a World Apart

While the Libertadores was drowning in draws, the Sudamericana went the opposite direction. Only two of the seven matches played ended level: Bolivar 1-1 Sao Paulo and Vasco da Gama 0-0 Olimpia. The rest had clear winners: Boca thrashed Recoleta 3-1, Atletico Mineiro beat Bragantino 1-0, Montevideo City Torque edged Tigre 1-0, Santos beat Macara 2-1 and Cienciano crushed Botafogo 6-1. Independiente Santa Fe and River are still pending due to rescheduling.