Second Leg of the 2025 Copa Libertadores Quarterfinals: Games, Favorites, and Where to Watch!

The time has come to separate the giants from the dreamers! This week, the Second Leg of the 2025 Libertadores Quarterfinals will determine the four final contenders for the title. Between September 23 and 25, expect rivalry, drama, and a true knockout-stage atmosphere — and for those who want an extra thrill, you can place Sports Bets responsibly!

Three of the four clashes feature Brazilian clubs, all heading into the second leg with an advantage. Palmeiras hosts River Plate at Allianz Parque after winning at El Monumental, while Flamengo visits Estudiantes in Argentina — both carrying the narrowest of leads.

São Paulo, on the other hand, created chances but fell to LDU in Quito and now needs to overturn a two-goal deficit at MorumBIS. Another team with home advantage is Racing, who defeated Vélez Sarsfield last week and could return to the Semifinals for the first time in 28 years.

To make sure you don’t miss a moment, we’ve prepared this complete guide so you know exactly where to follow every decisive play. Keep in mind: all odds shown here may change over time as bets are placed and are meant only to help you plan. Agreed? Then read on and get ready to have fun responsibly!

Racing vs. Vélez Sarsfield

In the only matchup between teams from the same country, Vélez Sarsfield started off at a disadvantage against Racing. On Tuesday, September 23, at 7:00 p.m., they will take the field at Estadio Presidente Perón needing to overturn a 1–0 deficit.

In a balanced first leg, the red card to defender Lisandro Magallán late in the first half weighed heavily against the hosts. To make matters worse, striker Adrián Martínez scored the winner for La Academia. That means El Fortín must win by at least one goal to force penalties.

Racing’s Form

In the Round of 16, Racing had to show mental strength. After losing 1–0 to Peñarol in Montevideo, they bounced back at home with a convincing 3–1 win, securing their place among the continent’s top eight.

Libertadores Campaign

Continental champions in 1967, Racing topped their group and come into this quarterfinal return leg with solid numbers: 6 wins, 1 draw, and just 2 defeats, with 18 goals scored and 4 conceded. Defensive consistency and set-piece efficiency are key strengths.

Domestic Performance

In the Argentine league, Racing has been inconsistent, sitting 11th in Group A of the Second Phase. In the Copa Argentina, they are still alive and will face River Plate in October for a quarterfinal spot.

Confirmed Absences

Manager Gustavo Costas will be without Santiago Solari, sidelined since September 17 with a muscle strain. Apart from that, Racing will field a full-strength lineup.

Playing Style

Under Costas, Racing focuses on ball circulation to draw opponents out and then exploit attacking width. Their trademark is high pressing, winning back possession with intensity, and pinning opponents back. Up front, Adrián Martínez is in superb form, leading the Libertadores scoring charts with 7 goals.

Vélez Sarsfield’s Form

Vélez eliminated Fortaleza in the Round of 16. They held a 0–0 draw in Brazil before sealing the deal with a 2–0 win in Liniers.

Libertadores Campaign

Winners in 1994, they also topped their group in this edition. So far, they’ve collected 4 wins, 3 draws, and 2 defeats, with 13 goals scored and only 5 conceded.

Domestic Performance

Nationally, they are 3rd in Group A of the Second Phase. In the Copa Argentina, however, they exited early, falling to Lanús in the second round.

Confirmed Absences

Coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto will be without Joaquín García, out with a broken ankle, and Braian Romero, sidelined with a muscle injury. In addition, Lisandro Magallán is suspended after his first-leg red card.

Playing Style

Schelotto’s Vélez emphasizes a packed midfield and high pressing to regain possession in the attacking half. From there, they rely on quick passing combinations and constant movement, looking to create numerical superiority in wide areas to feed their finishers. This approach worked against Fortaleza and is their hope for overturning the deficit in Avellaneda.

Racing vs. Vélez Sarsfield’s Recent Results

Ahead of this Libertadores clash, Racing beat Huracán 2–0 away in the league, while Vélez also comes off an away victory, defeating San Martín 2–1.

Racing vs. Vélez Sarsfield’s Head-to-Head Record

This is a historic rivalry, with 95 official matches played. Despite the overall balance — Vélez with 30 wins, Racing with 29, and 36 draws — recent history favors the hosts: in the last 11 years, Racing has 9 wins, 3 draws, and only 2 losses.

Predictions

With the first-leg lead and home advantage, Racing are favorites to win — reflected in odds of 2.34. Vélez sits at 3.45 to win, while the draw is priced at 2.96.

As for qualification, the betting market also favors La Academia: odds of 1.19 for them to advance compared to 4.7 for El Fortín.

Where to Watch

Paramount+ (Streaming)

Bet on Racing vs. Vélez Sarsfield at Blaze!

Palmeiras vs. River Plate

Palmeiras visited River Plate and returned to São Paulo with the advantage to seal qualification at Allianz Parque. We’re not recalling the 2021 edition — this time, Verdão defeated Los Millonarios 2–1 at El Monumental and will play the return leg at Allianz Parque on Wednesday, September 24, at 9:40 p.m.

With goals from defender Gustavo Gómez and striker Vitor Roque, the Brazilians saw defender Lucas Martínez Quarta score for the home side. The last continental champion before Brazil’s dominance of the tournament, River needs to win by the minimum score to qualify — four years ago, they won in São Paulo, something that could serve as motivation.

Palmeiras’ Form

The São Paulo club comes into the quarterfinals full of confidence. In the Round of 16, they crushed Universitario with a resounding 4–0 away win, then managed a goalless draw at Allianz Parque to secure qualification without trouble.

Libertadores Campaign

Undefeated in this edition, the three-time continental champion (1999, 2020, 2021) is having another strong run in the tournament. They won all six group-stage matches, followed by a win and a draw in the Round of 16, and then victory in the first quarterfinal leg. Their impressive goal difference highlights the campaign: 21 scored and only 4 conceded.

Domestic Performance

In the Brasileirão, Alviverde sits in 3rd place, still firmly in the title race. In the Copa do Brasil, however, they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by rivals Corinthians.

Confirmed Absences

To face the Argentines, Verdão will be without three players. Midfielder Figueiredo has been sidelined since February with an ACL injury, winger Paulinho has been out since July with a tibia fracture, and right-back Khellven suffered a foot injury on the 18th, the most recent absence.

Playing Style

With Abel Ferreira in charge, Palmeiras maintains a high tempo with and without the ball. The team focuses on quick transitions, structured pressing, and uses the flanks to open spaces. In attack, their mobility and finishing power allow Verdão to control the rhythm of the game.

River Plate’s Form

The Argentine side reached the quarterfinals after a dramatic qualification against Libertad. They drew 0–0 away in the first leg, then 1–1 at home, forcing penalties. Showing nerves of steel, River won the shootout 3–1.

Libertadores Campaign

Four-time champions of the competition, River has three wins, five draws, and one loss, with 14 goals scored and nine conceded.

Domestic Performance

Nationally, Los Millonarios occupy 2nd place in Group B of the Second Phase of the Argentine league. They are also in the quarterfinals of the Copa Argentina, where they will face Racing.

Confirmed Absences

Striker Agustín Ruberto has been out since February with a partial ligament tear; defender Germán Pezzella is recovering from a similar injury since August; winger Maximiliano Meza underwent knee surgery in July; and attacking midfielder Gonzalo Martínez has been sidelined for a week with a calf injury.

Playing Style

Marcelo Gallardo’s side keeps their aggressive identity, betting on patient build-up, high pressing, and dynamic movement to exploit gaps. With midfielders initiating from the back and fast wingers cutting inside, River seeks to wear down opponents with intensity and tempo, creating chances both centrally and out wide.

Palmeiras and River Plate’s Recent Results

Ahead of the clash, Palmeiras comes strong after a 4–1 win over Fortaleza at Allianz Parque, while the Argentines stumbled away from home, losing 2–1 to Atlético Tucumán.

Palmeiras vs. River Plate’s Head-to-Head Record

The rivalry highlights the weight of the clash: in nine official continental meetings, Palmeiras has four wins, three draws, and River has two victories.

In the Libertadores, the balance is even tighter: each side has won a series in different editions. In five encounters, Palmeiras won three and River two.

Predictions

Playing at home, with their fans and the aggregate lead, Palmeiras are favorites to win again. Verdão’s victory is priced at 1.77, a draw at 3.45, and a River win at 5.0. For qualification, the odds also favor Palmeiras at 1.10, compared to 6.8 for Los Millonarios.

Where to Watch

Globo (Free TV), ESPN (Pay TV), and Disney+ (Streaming).

Bet on Palmeiras vs. River Plate at Blaze!

São Paulo vs. LDU Quito

São Paulo prepares for a decisive night at MorumBIS this Thursday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m., against LDU Quito. At home, Tricolor Paulista must overturn a 2–0 defeat at altitude to return to the Semifinals after nine years.

Despite dominating possession, Hernán Crespo’s side was inefficient in front of goal. Tiago Nunes’ team took advantage, winning with goals from midfielder Bryan Ramírez and striker Michael Estrada. Thus, Los Albos can lose by one goal and still advance.

São Paulo’s Form

Tricolor Paulista reached the quarterfinals after a dramatic qualification against Atlético Nacional. They drew 0–0 away and 1–1 at MorumBIS. The tie went to penalties, where São Paulo won 4–3.

Libertadores Campaign

So far, the three-time continental champion has four wins, four draws, and just one defeat, with 11 goals scored and only five conceded.

Domestic Performance

São Paulo is 7th in the Brasileirão, staying in the top half of the table. In the Copa do Brasil, they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Athletico Paranaense.

Confirmed Absences

The squad faces a difficult moment with a crowded medical department: midfielder Luiz Gustavo and striker Jonathan Calleri have been out since April with a lung injury and an ACL tear, respectively — the same injury suffered by striker Ryan Francisco, sidelined since July.

In addition, midfielder Oscar remains out with a lumbar fracture, winger Lucas Moura struggles with a knee issue, striker André Silva is sidelined with an ACL injury, and right-back Cédric Soares is doubtful due to a viral infection.

Playing Style

Even shorthanded, São Paulo tries to preserve its offensive identity. Hernán Crespo emphasizes central midfield volume, short passing combinations, and well-distributed pressing to compensate for missing key players.

LDU Quito’s Form

The Ecuadorian side showed resilience in the Round of 16. After losing the first leg 1–0 to Botafogo in Rio, they bounced back at home in Quito with a 2–0 win to advance.

Libertadores Campaign

The only Ecuadorian team still in the competition and 2008 champions, LDU has been competitive this year. So far, they have four wins, two draws, and two defeats, with 10 goals scored and just five conceded.

Domestic Performance

Currently, Los Universitarios sit 3rd in the Ecuadorian league and remain alive in the Copa Ecuador, where they will face San Antonio Fútbol Club in October in the Round of 16.

Confirmed Absences

LDU has no injuries and should field their full-strength squad.

Playing Style

Coach Tiago Nunes builds from the back, with quick flank play and high pressing to recover the ball fast. The team stretches the field to create spaces, maintaining a high tempo throughout the 90 minutes.

São Paulo and LDU’s Recent Results

Both teams arrive from defeats: São Paulo lost 1–0 to Santos in the Brasileirão, while LDU Quito fell 4–2 to Universidad Católica. These setbacks add pressure and expectation to the clash.

São Paulo vs. LDU’s Head-to-Head Record

History shows balance with a slight edge for LDU: in seven official matches, São Paulo won three and LDU four. In Libertadores meetings, five in total, São Paulo won twice and LDU three times.

Predictions

At MorumBIS and needing to overturn the first-leg score, São Paulo is a strong favorite for the win in regulation: odds of 1.39 compared to 10.0 for LDU and 4.2 for the draw. However, when it comes to qualification, the Ecuadorians hold the advantage with odds of 1.41 over 2.92 for the Brazilians.

Where to Watch

Paramount+ (Streaming).

Bet on São Paulo vs. LDU Quito at Blaze!

Estudiantes vs. Flamengo

After a heated and controversial first leg at Maracanã, Estudiantes will host Flamengo at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi on Thursday, September 25, at 9:30 p.m. The clash in La Plata promises a breathless atmosphere and the trademark Libertadores intensity.

With goals from striker Pedro and right-back Guillermo Varela, Rubro-Negro saw defender Leo Pereira’s own goal reduce their lead. Therefore, Estudiantes needs a simple win to force penalties.

Estudiantes’ Form

Estudiantes reached the quarterfinals after overcoming Cerro Porteño in the Round of 16. They won 1–0 away in Paraguay and managed a 0–0 draw at home to qualify.

Libertadores Campaign

A four-time Libertadores champion, El Pincha has had a solid campaign. So far: five wins, one draw, and three defeats, with 13 goals scored and seven conceded — showing a balanced side capable of competing strongly in all areas.

Domestic Performance

In the Argentine league, Estudiantes sits 8th in Group A of the Second Phase. In the Copa Argentina, they exited earlier than expected, eliminated on penalties by Aldosivi (4–2) after a 1–1 draw in regular time.

Confirmed Absences

For the clash against Flamengo, coach Eduardo Domínguez will be without winger Joaquín Tobio Burgos (pelvic injury since June), right-back Eric Meza (thigh issue since August), center-back Leandro González Pírez (muscle injury), and winger Edwin Cetré (thigh injury in September).

Playing Style

Domínguez sets up a competitive side, with a compact block, vertical attacks down the flanks, and strong set-piece execution. This mix of defensive experience and versatile attackers keeps the club competitive.

Flamengo’s Form

Rubro-Negro advanced comfortably to the quarterfinals. In the Round of 16, they eliminated Internacional without trouble: 3–0 at Maracanã and 2–0 away.

Libertadores Campaign

Three-time continental champions (1981, 2019, 2022), Flamengo are once again impressing. So far: six wins, two draws, and one loss, with 13 goals scored and four conceded.

Domestic Performance

Flamengo leads the Brasileirão and are in great form domestically. Their only disappointment was elimination in the Round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil against Atlético Mineiro.

Confirmed Absences

Coach Filipe Luís will be without midfielder Jorginho (out since August with a thigh injury) and Erick Pulgar (still recovering from a metatarsal fracture in June).

Playing Style

Filipe Luís relies on fast combinations, width, and pressing the opponent’s build-up. The team rotates possession quickly, creates numerical superiority on the flanks, and attacks with volume and intensity.

Estudiantes and Flamengo’s Recent Results

In their last matches, Flamengo drew 1–1 with Vasco in the Brasileirão, while Estudiantes beat Defensa y Justicia 1–0 in the Argentine league.

Estudiantes vs. Flamengo’s Head-to-Head Record

The history favors the Brazilians: in nine official meetings, Flamengo has four wins, Estudiantes one, and there have been four draws.

Predictions

The clash in La Plata should be tense from start to finish. Even away from home, Flamengo are favorites, with odds of 2.16 for victory compared to 3.65 for Estudiantes and 3.15 for a draw. For qualification, Flamengo are again favored: 1.17 to advance compared to 5.0 for the Argentines.

Where to Watch

ESPN (Pay TV) and Disney+ (Streaming).

Bet on Estudiantes vs. Flamengo at Blaze!

Bet on the 2025 Copa Libertadores at Blaze!

Rest assured: betting on the 2025 Copa Libertadores Quarterfinals is allowed under MESP Ordinance 125/2024. You’ll see South America’s best clubs in duels of pure tension, rivalry, and history — and to enjoy this atmosphere, information and responsibility are key.

But always remember to gamble responsibly, as betting carries serious risks that can affect your mental and financial health. Treat it as entertainment, set a budget that matches your reality, stay disciplined, and use only amounts you can afford to lose.

Before placing your bets, analyze statistics, lineups, and team history. This helps you make more informed decisions and avoid impulsive betting. To go deeper, consult our Sports Betting Encyclopedia, which provides tips for safe and responsible betting.

Ready to enjoy every play and the thrill of the continent’s biggest tournament? Bet on the 2025 Copa Libertadores at Blaze responsibly and good luck!