The 64th edition of the continent’s premier tournament features four Colombian clubs in the lineup.
The 2023 Libertadores Cup includes four coffee-region teams. Three clubs bring long-standing tradition—Atlético Nacional, Millonarios, and Medellín—while Deportes Pereira makes a surprising entry after clinching the second-half season title.
Verdolagas and Matecañas earned their spots through the group stage, which begins in April, with the draw anticipated in the week of March 22. In contrast, Embajadores and Poderosos start in the playoff rounds, meaning their campaign will kick off earlier, in February, once the draw that took place this Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at the CONMEBOL headquarters set the matchups.
In short, Colombian clubs compete at the highest level of the continental league.
NATIONAL ATHLETE
Santiago Rivera / Goal
Atlético Nacional secured their passage by proclaiming the BetPlay 2022 I League champions, earning direct access to the group stage. For the draw scheduled in March, they will be placed in pot 2 alongside Libertad, Inter, Fluminense, Barcelona, Racing, Corinthians, and Colo Colo, and could face a top opponent from pot 1 such as Flamengo, Palmeiras, Boca Juniors, or River Plate, among others.
SPORT PEREIRA
Dimayor
Los Matecañas achieved a historic group stage ranking after clinching their first star in the BetPlay 2022 II League. They will occupy pot 4 in the corresponding draw, joined by Uruguay’s Liverpool, Ñublense, Patronato, and the four playoff qualifiers. Sharing a group with Atlético Nacional is not possible, but a pairing with Millonarios or Medellín could occur if eligible.
MILLONAIRES
Dimayor
The Embajadores earned Libertadores qualification by winning the 2022 BetPlay Cup, their third title, securing a spot in Stage II of the playoffs. In the draw for these early rounds, they were placed in pot 1 alongside Atlético Mineiro, Cerro Porteño, Sporting Cristal, Medellín, Huracán, Always Ready, and Fortaleza.
Their opponent came from pot 2, Universidad Católica del Ecuador, whom they would face in the first leg as visitors during the week of February 22, with the return leg in Bogotá in the week of March 1.
As they advance, the Blue-White face the winner between Carabobo and Atlético Mineiro in Stage III.
INDEPENDIENTE MEDELLÍN
Medellín
Independiente Medellín, like Millonarios, qualified for Libertadores by finishing high in the 2022 reclassification, earning a place in pot 1 for Stage II of the playoffs while awaiting a rival in the higher pot. The Antioqueño side secured their position as the E2 key winner of Stage I of the rematch, which could be Nacional Potosí of Bolivia or El Nacional of Ecuador, with the Atanasio Girardot hosting the first leg in early March.
If they progress, Poderosos would meet the winner of Magallanes and Always Ready in Stage III.
Note: The information reflects the tournament structure and seedings as determined in the cited draw.