The 2008 Copa Sudamericana de Clubes was the seventh edition of the Copa Sudamericana football tournament. The draw for the tournament took place on June 10, 2008 in Buenos Aires and the competition was played between July 30 and December 3. Arsenal de Sarandí were the defending champions, having won the trophy the previous season. Brazilian side Internacional won the 2008 tournament, becoming the first Brazilian winners of the trophy.
Qualified teams A total of 34 teams are participating in the 2008 Copa Sudamericana, from 12 associations (10 from CONMEBOL and 2 from CONCACAF). AssociationTeamQualify method ArgentinaArsenal2007 Copa Sudamericana championBoca JuniorsInviteeRiver PlateInviteeEstudiantes2007–08 Primera División 2nd placeSan Lorenzo2007–08 Primera División 4th placeArgentinos Juniors2007–08 Primera División 5th placeIndependiente2007–08 Primera División 6th place BoliviaBolívar2007 Apertura & Clausura Runners-up Playoff runner-upBlooming2007 Apertura & Clausura 3rd place Playoff winnersAutomatically declared winner. Apertura's 3rd place La Paz FC already qualified for Copa Libertadores 2008. BrazilSão Paulo2007 Série A championGrêmio2007 Série A 6th placePalmeiras2007 Série A 7th placeAtlético Mineiro2007 Série A 8th placeBotafogo2007 Série A 9th placeVasco da Gama2007 Série A 10th placeInternacional2007 Série A 11th placeAtlético Paranaense2007 Série A 12th place ChileÑublense2008 Apertura league stage 1st placeUniversidad Católica2008 Apertura league stage 2nd place ColombiaDeportivo Cali2007 Reclasificación 4th placeAmérica de Cali2007 Reclasificación 5th place EcuadorLDU Quito2007 Serie A Second Stage winnerDeportivo Quito2008 Serie A First Stage winner ParaguayLibertad 2007 Primera División championOlimpia 2007 Primera División 2nd best-placed non-champion PeruSport Áncash2007 Descentralizado 2nd best-placed non-championUniversitario2007 Descentralizado 3rd best-placed non-champion UruguayDefensor Sporting2007–08 Uruguayan Primera División championRiver Plate2008 Liguilla 4th place VenezuelaAragua2007–08 Copa Venezuela championMaracaibo2007–08 Primera División 2nd best-placed non-finalist MexicoGuadalajaraBest-placed eligible team in 2008 ClausuraSan Luis2nd best-placed eligible team in 2008 ClausuraMexican teams participating in the CONCACAF Champions League 2008-09 are excluded from participating in the 2008 Copa Sudamericana. As both Santos Laguna and Cruz Azul have qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League via the Clausura 2008 playoffs, then next placed team (San Luis) will take their place in Sudamericana. HondurasMotaguaInviteeSaprissa no estará en la Copa Nissan Suramericana (Best 2008 CONCACAF Champions' Cup club which won't take part on the next season)
Preliminary stage
The Preliminary Stage opened the Copa Sudamericana. All the second berths of 8 South American football associations contested this round. The four winners advanced to the First Round. Team #1 played at home first.
First stage The First Stage consisted of twenty-eight teams each playing two-legged matches. Twenty-four teams qualified directly to this round. The fourteen winners advanced to the Round of 16. Team #1 played at home first.
Knockout stages
(*)Indicates that the team plays at home for the first leg
Round of 16 The Second Stage was the Round of 16, played by the fourteen winners from the First Round, plus River Plate and Boca Juniors. As in the First Round, these teams played two-legged matches. Team #1 played at home first.
Quarterfinals The Quarterfinals was played by the eight winners from the Round of 16. As in the First Round, these teams played two-legged matches. Team #1 played at home first.
Semifinals The Semifinals was played by the four winners from the Quarterfinals. As in the First Round, these teams played two-legged matches. Team #1 played at home first.
Finals
The Finals were played by the two winners from the Semifinals. As in the First Round, these teams played two-legged matches. Team #1 played at home first.
Champion Copa Sudamericana2008 WinnerInternacional1st Title
References