What have I missed?

Let’s get straight to the bad news. If you’ve not been watching the 2023 edition of the Copa Libertadores, one of the world’s most thrilling club soccer competitions, then you've missed out. Especially if you’ve been watching soccer competitions with no relegation and endless playoffs.

You’ve missed out on shocks, surprises, golden goals, classic players, rising stars and some of the most tenacious tackles and furious fights ever broadcast.

The good news is that you’re not too late to get on board as the Copa Libertadores semifinals are right around the corner. 

The Copa Libertadores 101

If you are now asking what the Copa Libertadores is, then take a good hard look at some of your sporting decisions in recent years. But you are forgiven. 

The Copa Libertadores is the South American equivalent of the Champions League - except it’s a heck of a lot older, with the first edition being held in 1960. 

It features the elite of the world’s game, years before they will ever play in the Champions League … or win a World Cup: stand up, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo who all rose to fame in the Copa Libertadores, and hello to Vitor Roque and Endrick for the future. 

Unlike other soccer competitions that take place in primetime in the US of A, there are no playoffs, no second chances, no players lining up to take selfies with their opponents as if they had won a competition to be there. Instead, Copa Libertadores means the world (and more) to the fans of the teams which have made it through to the final-four, and are set to face off over two legs. 

The semifinal line-up

While the Argentinian national team are top dogs in Copa America and the World Cup, the nation’s sides have been second best to Brazil for the past five years. The last time an Argentinian club won the Copa Libertadores was in 2018. 

Boca Juniors are looking to reset the record and are hoping new arrival Edison Cavani can lead Boca to their first Copa Libertadores victory since 2007 and do it on Brazilian soil in the Maracana. Boca are facing the imperious Palmeiras, the Brazilian side that have won two of the last three editions.  

The second semifinal is an all-Brazilian affair between Fluminense and Internacional, two exciting teams on the rise in South America.  

I’m in! When is it?

Wednesday 27th September - 8PM ET / 5PM PT: Fluminense vs. Internacional - Semifinal,1st leg

Thursday 28th September - 8PM ET / 5PM PT: Boca Juniors vs. Palmeiras, Semifinal,1st leg 

Wait, there’s more?

Oh yes, we also have the Copa Sudamericana semifinals as well, the continent’s equivalent of the Europa League. Four fantastic matches over three nights of soccer that sizzles. 

Tuesday 26th September - 8PM ET / 5PM PT: Corinthians vs. Fortaleza

Wednesday 27th September - 5:30PM ET / 2:30PM PT: LDU Quito vs. Defensa y Justicia.