The Confederation of South American Football (CONMEBOL) today Monday opted for attending a request from the Brazilian Football Federation, again allowing a maximum of six Brazilian teams to enter the coming edition of the most important regional competition: the Libertadores Cup. Today’s decision revoked the decision from last month, when a limit of five spots for Brazilian teams was established in order to open space for the new spot recently created for the winner of the South America Cup. Thus, six Brazilian teams are guaranteed participation next year: the two already qualified (Internacional as reigning champions of The Libertadores Cup and Santos for having won the Brazilian Cup) and the top four teams from this year’s edition of the Brazilian Championship.
The only catch is if a Brazilian team (e.g. Palmeiras, Atlético-MG, Avaí or Goiás) should win this year’s edition of the South America Cup. In that case, only the top three from the Brazilian Championship will qualify.
This is all good news for Palmeiras. Instead of six points behind the opponent that was holding the last spot granting access to next year’s edition of the Libertadores Cup (Corinthians), Palmeiras is now only two points behind the current holder of the fourth spot (Atlético-PR). With eight rounds still to go and with six teams within reach of that last position (Atlético-PR, Grêmio, Botafogo, São Paulo, Palmeiras and Vasco), anything can happen. And, in any case, Palmeiras is very much alive in the South America Cup, needing only a draw on Wednesday to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
ANYTHING PALMEIRAS 