Copa Libertadores: The road to the Eternal Glory starts tonight!

The best teams from the eight South American football-mad nations go together to determine who is the best. It's a tournament with plenty of tradition, passion and world-class players throughout over six decades.

In the last two years, only Brazilian clubs have reached the final - and just one club outside Brazil and Argentina has made the semis since 2017.

Argentine big guns River Plate and Boca Juniors met in a highly controversial final played at Real Madrid's Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, but ever since then, even the Argentinean teams find it hard to break the domination of Palmeiras, Atletico Mineiro and Flamengo, the big three hailing from the Brazilian Serie A.

The Greens of Palmeiras are currently the biggest favourites. Manged by Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira, they are driven by a fanatic fanbase and significant financial backing from the board. Argentinean club Independiente is still the most successful club in Libertadores' history, having lifted the mythical trophy seven times.

Actually, Argentinean clubs have a total of 25 wins, four more than the Brazilians. However, at this rate, there will be a shift in the standings. On the other hand, Brazil has the largest number of winning teams, with 10 clubs having won the title. In total, 25 clubs have won the competition since its conception in 1960. Fifteen of those have won the competition more than once, with seven of those managing to retain the title.

Playing in this tournament is the biggest honour for any club in the eight countries from the CONMEBOL association (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador and Peru). All those teams are dreaming the "Liberator Dream". It's a phrase used to denote winning or attempting to win the Copa Libertadores. When a team gets eliminated from the competition, it is said that the team has awakened from the liberator's dream.

Winning the Libertadores title isn't just an unbelievable honour in South American football, but also a place to compete for the title of the FIFA Club World Cup, alongside champions of other continents. So, there is everything to play for. Eternal Glory or "La Gloria Eterna" as they say in the Latin world. The Liberator Dream begins tonight - and 32 clubs will try their best not to wake up.

CONMEBOL COPA LIBERTADORES

Group stage

Wednesday

01.15: (2.10) Colon (3.05) Penarol (4.00)

01.15: (2.90) Olimpia (3.05) Cerro Porteno (2.60)

01.15: (4.40) Caracas (3.35) Atletico PR (1.90)

03.30: (8.50) Sporting Cristal (4.50) Flamengo (1.40)

03.30: (3.80) Deportivo Cali (3.00) Boca Juniors (2.20)

03.30: (2.25) Always Ready (3.15) Corinthians (3.45)

Thursday

00.55: (2.10) America Mineiro (3.20) Ind.Del Valle (3.80)

00.55: (1.65) Bragantino (3.60) Nacional M. (6.00)

00.55: (1.95) Talleres (3.40) Universitad Catolica (4.10)

03.00: (9.50) Alianza Lima (4.90) River Plate (1.35)

03.00: (8.50) D.Tachira (4.50) Palmeiras (1.40)

03.00: (4.60) Deportivo Tolima (3.40) Atletico Mineiro (1.85)

05.00: (2.95) Ind. Petrolero (3.20) Emelec (2.50)

Friday

01.55: (1.80) Fortaleza CE (3.45) Colo Colo (4.80)

03.00: (2.40) Estudiantes (2.90) Velez (3.15)

05.00: (1.55) The Strongest (4.00) Libertad (6.25)

***odds are subject to change