Approaching a mini pause due to the upcoming international break, the Copa Libertadores has a big week coming up, with 28 of the 32 teams in action.

Some are playing their third of six group games, while most are playing their fourth. This is the time, then, when qualification for the knockout stage starts to be defined. There are some huge matches coming up in the next few days. These are the five to pay attention to.

Tuesday, Group 8

Sporting Cristal (Peru, 5 points) vs. Racing (Argentina, 6 points)

Last...

For those countries that organise their domestic championship in a playoff system, the idea is that the season culminates in a grand showpiece occasion. That, anyway, is the theory. Peru is showing us that it does not necessarily work out that way sometimes.

The Peruvian season is divided into two halves, both played on a league basis. The two winners then meet in a best-of-three final. In the first half of the year, the club that came out on top was Juan Aurich, from Chiclayo. This is significant....