SANTIAGO – As the year is coming to an end, the soccer season in Chile is also over. With the hectic Copa Libertadores-final still fresh in our memory, various Chilean teams look forward to the start of a new season. Four Chilean teams, to be more specific.
For the first time in the competition’s history, the Copa Libertadores will be played with a single final match held at Estadio Nacional in Santiago on November 23rd, 2019. Normally the final is played over two legs with each team playing home and away.
Following violence at the Buenos Aires final this year it was decided a change to a single match spectacle was the better option. The final stages of the competition now mimic more closely the format of the European counterpart, the Champions League.
Four teams
Four teams from Chile will take part in next season: Universidad Católica, winner of the Primera División, and Universidad Concepción go straight to the group stages, respectively H and C.
Palestino, winner of the Copa Chile, and Universidad de Chile have to qualify for the group stages through a preliminary round of matches. Palestino plays Independiente Medellin for their first match on February 10th, with the return match in Columbia being played eight days later.
Universidad de Chile plays FBC Melgar of Peru at Estadio Nacional on February 12th.
The first match of the new Chilean season is on February 2nd, when the winner of the Primera División (Universidad Católica) plays the Copa Chile winners (Palestino) for the Supercopa.
John is a volcanologist, sports fan, radio broadcaster, and accomplished musician. Born and raised in Britain, he has travelled extensively for his research on volcanoes. Whilst living in London, UK, John performed in the punk bands ‘And Now We’re Even’ and ‘Filthy Militia’ recording six studio albums and two EP’S over this time. He currently lives in Santiago, Chile where he works as a university professor in rock mechanics.