Copa Libertadores: The Strongest Proved Way Too Mighty For Union Espanola, Will Join Atletico Tucuman In Group Stage

Two games were played on Thursday as the Copa Libertadores' playoff round came to a close.

At La Paz, Bolivia:

Pablo Escobar delivered a natural hat trick (50', 72', 77') as The Strongest made 97-pound weaklings out of visiting Union Espanola 5-0 in game two of their two-match series and finished off the Chilean club 6-1 on aggregate.

At Tucuman, Argentina:

Rodrigo Aliendro (19'), Cristian Menendez (23'), and Fernando Zampedri (28') each scored a goal in the first half-hour as Atletico Tucuman defeated visiting Junior 3-1 in game two and ousted the Colombian club 3-2 on aggregate.



Here are the four eight-club groups that will make up this year's group stage in the Copa Libertadores.

GROUP ONE:

Atletico Nacional (Colombia; defending champions)
Estudiantes (Argentina)
Barcelona SC (Ecuador)
Botafogo (Brazil)



GROUP TWO:

Santos (Brazil)
Independiente Santa Fe (Colombia)
Sporting Cristal (Peru)
The Strongest (Bolivia)



GROUP THREE:

River Plate (Argentina)
Club Sport Emelec (Ecuador)
Independiente Medellin (Colombia)
FBC Melgar (Peru)



GROUP FOUR:

San Lorenzo (Argentina)
Universidad Catolica (Chile)
Flamengo (Brazil)
Atletico Paranaense (Brazil)



GROUP FIVE:

Penarol (Uruguay)
Palmeiras (Brazil)
Jorge Wilstermann (Bolivia)
Atletico Tucuman (Argentina)



GROUP SIX:

Atletico Mineiro (Brazil)
Club Libertad (Paraguay)
Godoy Cruz (Argentina)
Sport Boys (Bolivia)



GROUP SEVEN:

Club Nacional (Uruguay)
Chapecoense (Brazil)
Lanus (Argentina)
Zulia FC (Venezuela)



GROUP EIGHT:

Gremio (Brazil)
Club Guarani (Paraguay)
Zamora FC (Venezuela)
Deportes Iquique (Chile)

Group-stage play opens on March 7.