(CNN) –– The Copa Libertadores 2023 enters the decisive stage. This edition is the third consecutive to have three Brazilian teams – Fluminense, Palmeiras and Internacional – among the four clubs that aspire to lift the maximum trophy of Conmebol. The rest is Argentine: Boca Juniors.

The match of Fluminense vs. Internacional de Porto Alegre will animate the first semifinal, whose first leg will be played this Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro. A day later, in Buenos Aires, Boca Juniors will host Palmeiras de São Paulo.

The tournament has been characterized in the last four editions by the absolute dominance of the Brazilian teams, who won the four finals. What's more, in those editions there was only one non-Brazilian finalist: River Plate in 2019. Flamengo of Rio de Janeiro was the champion in the 2019 and 2022 editions, while Palmeiras took the glory in 2020 and 2021.

The tournament has had a great surprise in this edition: Flamengo, last champion and serious candidate to repeat the crown, was eliminated in the second round at the hands of Olimpia of Paraguay.

Let's see how the 4 teams arrive.

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Fluminense receives Internacional de Porto Alegre at the legendary Maracanã

The "Flu" had a successful journey here based on its great technical quality and its great interpreters, among which stands out the side (captain and emblem) Marcelo, former star of Real Madrid. In the initial instance he won his group with 10 units, in which the thrashing that he gave at home to River Plate by 5 to 1 stood out. In the second round they eliminated Argentinos Juniors (Argentina) in an extremely tough and competitive match. It was a draw at 1 in Buenos Aires and a 2-0 win for the cariocas in Brazil. In the quarterfinals they eliminated Olimpia with two victories: 2-0 at home and 3-1 in Paraguay, a match in which John Kennedy and Argentine Germán Cano showed off, their lethal weapons of attack. The latter is the top scorer of the tournament with 9 goals.

The last match of the "Flu" was on Wednesday against Brasileirao, in which it beat Cruzeiro 1-0 at home. The team led by Fernando Diniz (he is also the interim coach of the Brazilian National Team) is in fifth position with 41 units, 10 points behind leader Botafogo.

Fluminense never won the Copa Libertadores.

Their opponent will be Internacional, who won their group unbeaten with 12 points. In the second round they eliminated River Plate on penalties, after losing at the Más Monumental 1-2 and winning 2-1 at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, in very disputed, even and close duels. In the quarterfinals they eliminated Bolívar (Bolivia) with two victories: 1-0 away and 2-0 at home. The team, led by the Argentine Eduardo Coudet, enjoys players of enormous football class, a solid game, tactical richness and high-caliber football. Highlights include Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, Argentine defender Gabriel Mercado, Chilean midfielder Charles Aranguiz, Brazilian striker Bruno Enrique and especially their main offensive card: Ecuadorian Enner Valencia.

The Porto Alegre team lost last Thursday to Brasileirao 2-1 in its visit to Atletico Paranaense. It is in 13th position with 29 points, 22 behind leader Botafogo.

Internacional won the Copa Libertadores twice: in 2006 and 2010.

When is the match of Fluminense vs. International and where to see it?

Day: Wednesday, September 27

Schedules:

09.30 p.m.: Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile

08.30 p.m.: Venezuela, Bolivia and Paraguay

07.30 p.m.: Peru, Colombia and Ecuador

06.30 p.m: Mexico City

Stadium: Maracanã

City: Rio de Janeiro

To watch on TV:

Brazil: ESPN and OˋGlobo

Argentina: Fox Sports and Star+

Rest of Latin America: ESPN

United States: Bein Sports

Boca receives this Thursday at the Bombonera the powerful Palmeiras

On Thursday, Boca Juniors and Palmeiras will meet for the third time in the semifinals, in a duel full of history between two legendary teams of the tournament.

"Xeneize" and "Verdão" met 10 times in the Copa Libertadores: 6 matches ended in a draw, 2 victories were for the Paulistas and the rest were for the Argentine team.

The most important duels were favorable to the Argentine team. In the final of the year 2000 they tied in 2 in Buenos Aires and tied in 0 in São Paulo. Boca won on penalties 4-2 with Colombian goalkeeper Óscar Córdoba as a figure, who stopped the penalties of Colombian Faustino Asprilla and Roque Junior. Boca also beat him in two other important duels and both in the semifinals. In 2001 they tied both matches in 2 goals and the "Xeneize" eliminated it again by penalties (in this case 3-2), having again as a figure to Córdoba, which contained two penalties.

In 2018 they met again in the semifinals, with Argentine triumph: they won 2-0 in the Bombonera and drew 2-2 in the rematch in Brazil.

The "Xeneize" arrives at the big event in the temple of the neighborhood of La Boca after having won its group with 13 units, with 4 victories. In the second round they eliminated Nacional of Uruguay, with a goalless draw in the first leg in Montevideo and another 2-2 in the Bombonera. Those led by Jorge Almirón won on penalties 4-2. The figure was the former goalkeeper of the Argentine National Team, Sergio Romero, who stopped the shots of Juan Ignacio Ramírez and the Colombian Bocanegra.

In the quarterfinals, the victim was Racing Club, led by a former Boca player like Fernando Gago. They were two tactical duels, of chess pieces, each looking for the initiative as a local. Both matches ended in goalless draws. In the penalties, that place where Boca is agitated, the "Xeneize" defeated the academic team 4-1, in which again Sergio Romero was the figure to contain the shots of Gonzalo Piovi and Leonardo Sigali.

Boca is not a team that in this competition has played a devastating football, but it has been a tremendously competitive, with a lot of character and with many players of enormous hierarchy. Its main figure in the contest stands out, its goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who has been decisive for Boca to reach this instance. Also noteworthy are their captain Marcos Rojo, the young full-back Valentín Barco (who has both talent and daring), the Peruvian side Luis Advíncula, the attacking midfielder Lucas Janson and the Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, who has not yet shone, but has left touches of his class.

In the local tournament, Boca is 9th in its group (the tournament is divided into two zones of 14 clubs) with 7 points. Last Saturday he drew 1-1 against Lanús, in a game that was not far from having a good production.

Boca is the second highest winner of the Copa Libertadores with 6 crowns, 1 behind the maximum winner: Independiente de Avellaneda.

Palmeiras is a team with class and quality performers. It comes to this great duel as a team that knows how to stand in these instances. However, it is a true South American classic and favoritism is diluted. The "Verdao" won its group decisively, with five wins and one defeat. In the second round he had to go through a very hard instance against the brave Atlético Mineiro (Brazil), which he won 1-0 in the first leg away, and then tied at 0 at his Allianz Parque stadium.

In the quarterfinals it was a real formality: they got rid of Deportivo Pereira (Colombia) with a crushing 4-0 away and a 0-<> draw at home.

The "Verdao", directed by the Portuguese Abel Ferreira, has an admirable reading to adjust to what is in front of it. It has players of hierarchy, among which stand out its goalkeeper Weverton, the defender, captain and voice of command Gustavo Gómez, the midfielder Raphael Veiga and the striker Rony. He will not be able to count on Dudu, one of his superstars, for a cruciate ligament rupture, a loss of great relevance, since he is an exceptional striker.

The São Paulo team comes from losing on Thursday 1-0 away to Gremio, for the Brasileirao. In this contest it is located in second place with 44 points, 7 behind leader Botafogo.

Palmeiras has won the Copa Libertadores in 3 editions.

When is the Boca vs. Palmeiras and where to see it?

Day: Thursday, September 28

Schedules:

09.30 p.m.: Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile

08.30 p.m.: Venezuela, Bolivia and Paraguay

07.30 p.m.: Peru, Colombia and Ecuador

06.30 p.m.: Mexico City

Stadium: The Bombonera

City: Buenos Aires

To watch on TV:

Argentina: Fox Sports - Telefe

Rest of Latin America: ESPN

United States: Bein Sports - Bein Sports en Español

Boca JuniorsCopa LibertadoresPalmeiras