- River Plate and Independiente Santa Fe will play the return leg of the Round of 16 this Wednesday, August 26.
- The winner will face Vasco da Gama in the Quarterfinals of the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana.
The 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana will know this Wednesday the last team to advance to the Quarterfinals. River Plate will receive Independiente Santa Fe from 9:30 PM Argentina time, at the Most Monumental Stadium, after the 0-0 draw recorded in Bogotá.
The draw at El Campín left the series without numerical advantages, although with different feelings.Santa Fe generated the most dangerous situations of the matchAlthough he didn't manage to beat Santiago Beltrán, the young River goalkeeper held his team and was crucial in helping the Argentine side return to Buenos Aires with a clean sheet.
Nahuel Bustos posed a constant threat to the visiting defense. One of his shots, deflected by Beltrán, hit the crossbar, and another attempt struck the post. Hugo Rodallega also tested the goalkeeper, while Franco Fagúndez came close to scoring in the final stages. River had its best chance early on through a Lautaro Rivero header, which Weimar Asprilla saved.
The 0-0 draw leaves both teams needing a win in Buenos Aires. Whoever wins within the 90 minutes will secure qualification, while a new draw – regardless of the number of goals – will take the decision directly to penalties.
River will look to capitalize on home advantage, which they have yet to lose in the current competition.Eduardo Coudet's team has won two matches and drawn one at the Monumental during the Group Stage.They have a strong record, with five goals scored and only one conceded. This performance allowed them to finish undefeated and top of Group H with 14 points.
Santa Fe arrives at the decisive stage after navigating two competitions during the continental season. After finishing third in their CONMEBOL Libertadores group, they entered the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Playoffs andeliminated Caracas with an aggregate score of 5-0.The draw against River also extended their streak without conceding goals in the tournament.
The series brings together two former champions of 'La Gran Conquista'. River lifted the trophy in 2014, and Santa Fe followed in 2015, becoming the first - and so far only - Colombian club to win the competition. Eleven years after those consecutive victories, only one can continue in the race.
Vasco da Gama already awaits in the Quarterfinals.The Brazilian team drew 0-0 with Olimpia in Rio de Janeiro and later won 4-1 in Asunción to secure their place among the top eight.
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Date:Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Time:9:30 PM Argentina time
Stadium:Monumental Stadium
Referee:Esteban Ostojich (Uruguay)
VAR:Leodán González (Uruguay)
The match in data
- River surpassed its last 12 CONMEBOL knockout stage matches after drawing the away leg, including seven with a 0-0 scoreline. The last time they lost was against Lanús in 2013 (0-0 and 1-3).
- Independiente Santa Fe won its last two away matches in CONMEBOL competitions and will aim to secure three consecutive away victories for the first time in such competitions.
- Independiente Santa Fe hit two post shots against River in the away leg, its highest record in a CONMEBOL match since records began (2013), tied with five other encounters. They also outperformed River in shots (9-3), expected goals (1.2 xG - 0.1 xG), and rival area interventions (15-6).
- River is unbeaten in seven matches in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana (4 wins, 3 draws), a feat also achieved in the first seven games of the 2025 Libertadores (3 wins, 4 draws) and 2024 (6 wins, 1 draw). Additionally, in the previous two seasons, they did not lose the eighth match and advanced to the quarterfinals.
- On his River debut in CONMEBOL competitions, Ángel Correa completed five dribbles against Independiente Santa Fe in the away leg, his highest record in such matches (tied with five by San Lorenzo against River in the 2013 Sudamericana). The last River players to effectively pull off five dribbles at a continental level were Franco Mastantuono (8 against Universitario in 2025) and Julián Álvarez (5 against Fluminense in 2021).