The Copa Sudamericana is the second-most prestigious club tournament organized by CONMEBOL, only behind the Copa Libertadores. To give you a better idea, it’s like the UEFA Europa League, which is only behind the UEFA Champions League.
Competition Format: From Group Stage to Final
Currently, the competition includes a Group Stage, in which at least two teams from every country associated with CONMEBOL participate. There are eight groups of four teams. The top two of each group advance to the knockout stages. The winner of each group automatically advances to the Round of 16, while the runner-up of each group advances to a playoff round in which they must face one of eight teams that were eliminated from the Copa Libertadores. The winner of each series advances to the Round of 16. After that, we’ve quarterfinals, semifinals and final.
Copa Sudamericana Outrights Betting: Picking a Winner Before the Tournament Starts
Usually, the continental competition runs from March to October. However, the Copa Sudamericana Outrights betting action begins even before the tournament starts. That’s right, the Copa Sudamericana Outrights are all about picking a winner.
For example, at the time of writing, Sao Paulo is offering the best price among 24 teams, +500, to win the title. Why? Because the Brazilian side finished the Group Stage unbeaten thanks to a 5-1-0 record, 13 goals for and zero against. That price gives you the chance of winning $500 per every $100 wagered on them.
That price may change as the tournament progresses. For example, if Sao Paulo advances to the quarterfinals, it might change to +300. In other words, you may want to take advantage of early-stages Copa Sudamericana Outrights odds.
Factors to Consider: Making an Informed Outright Bet
Prior to placing an outright bet, it’s important for you to check which team is defending the title, which teams have won the most titles, the way each team got its ticket to the tournament, how each team is doing domestically.
Historical Dominance and Competitiveness
The tournament has been dominated by Argentinian clubs with nine titles, followed by Brazilian teams with five. The reigning champions are Independiente del Valle from Ecuador, a team that has won the gold twice.
We’re talking about an extremely competitive tournament, so much that no team from Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela has been able to reach the final.