体坛英语新闻：Copa Libertadores: Eight champions to play round of 16

BUENOS AIRES, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Eight teams qualified to the round of 16 of Copa Libertadores, the soccer competition organized by the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), will play against one another beginning from April 24, sports media reported Friday.

Argentina's Boca Juniors, winner of six Copa Libertadores (1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2007) will face again Brazilian Corinthians, who defeated the Argentineans in the 2012 final match.

Other Argentinean teams Newell's and Velez Sarsfield will face each other and only one will qualify to the next round, while Tigre will play against laureate Paraguay's Olimpia.

Peru's Real Garcilaso, which debuts in Copa Libertadores, will face Uruguay's Nacional, a strong team of the region.

Besides, there will be a thrilling Brazilian game between Atletico Mineiro, the best team in the group phase with its star Ronaldinho, and the powerful Sao Paulo, where Rogerio Ceni plays, who is one of the best goalkeepers in the history of world soccer.

Another Brazilian team from Sao Paulo, Palmeiras will play against Mexico's Tijuana, while also Brazilian Gremio will face Colombia's Independiente de Santa Fe.

The only match which will not be played by a Copa Libertadores' champion will be the one between Brazil's Fluminense and Ecuador's Emelec.

Following are the match schedule:

April 24: Real Garcilaso (Peru) - Nacional (Uruguay).

April 25: Newell's (Argentina) - Velez (Argentina).

April 25: Tijuana (Mexico) - Palmeiras (Brazil).

April 30: Tigre (Argentina) - Olimpia (Paraguay).

May 1st : Boca (Argentina) - Corinthians (Brazil).

May 1st : San Pablo (Brasil - Atletico Mineiro (Brazil).

May 2: Emelec (Ecuador) - Fluminense (Brazil). ' May 2: Gremio (Brazil) - Independiente Santa Fe (Colombia)

(Elisa G.)