Copa Libertadores is the CONMEBOL equivalent of European soccer’s Champions League . It features the best teams and players in South America and serves up a feast of football for fans around the world.
Teams from Brazil and Argentina tend to dominate the competition, but we have seen winners from across the South American continent over the years. You can bet on every game and watch all the action right here at Stake Sportsbook .
So, if you’re keen to profit from soccer betting at Stake.com , learn about the Copa Libertadores and which wagers you can place on all upcoming games in this competition.
Copa Libertadores 2025 Schedule & Format
Copa Libertadores is a knockout continental club competition. After a series of qualifying stages, the tournament begins with a group stage, in which each team plays 6 matches.
The top 2 teams from each group progress to the knockout stages, beginning with a two-legged round of 16. During the knockout stage, extra time and penalty shootouts are used to decide the winner of tied games. Winners then progress to the next round, culminating in the final to decide the champions in November.
Here’s the full schedule for the 2025 Copa Libertadores:
4-13 February - First stage
18-27 February - Second stage
4-13 March - Third stage
19 March - Group stage draw
2 April-29 May - Group stage
4 June - Knockout stage draw
12-26 August - Round 16
16-25 September - Quarterfinals
21-30 October - Semifinals
29 November - Final
Major Teams in Copa Libertadores
47 teams in total take part in the Copa Libertadores, including Botafogo, the current Copa Libertadores champions and Racing Club, the current Copa Sudamericana champions. There are 7 additional spots for Brazilian teams, 6 for Argentinian teams and 4 for each of the other national associations.
Argentina is currently the most dominant nation in the competition, with a total of 25 championships. However, Brazil is only just behind with 24, and Brazilian clubs have won 7 of the last 8 Copa Libertadores.
The most successful clubs in the competition include:
Independiente (Argentina) - 7 titles (Last win in 1984)
Boca Juniors (Argentina) - 6 titles (Last win in 2007)
Peñarol (Uruguay) - 5 titles (Last win in 1987)
River Plate (Argentina) - 4 titles (Last win in 2018)
Estudiantes (Argentina) - 4 titles (Last win in 2009)
Olimpia (Paraguay) - 3 titles (Last win in 2002)
Nacional (Uruguay) - 3 titles (Last win in 1988)
São Paulo (Brazil) - 3 titles (Last win in 2005)
Palmeiras (Brazil) - 3 titles (Last win in 2021)
Santos (Brazil) - 3 titles (Last win in 2011)
Grêmio (Brazil) - 3 titles (Last win in 2017)
Flamengo (Brazil) - 3 titles (Last win in 2022)
Here at Stake, we're proud to announce the our partnership with newcomers Club Deportivo Ñublense , the major Chilean football team as they challenge Latin American football.
History of Copa Libertadores
Copa Libertadores has been played every season since 1960 and is the flagship tournament in South American soccer. The tournament was named after the leaders of the Latin American wars of independence and is hugely popular across the Americas.
The inaugural winners of the South American league were Uruguayan giants Penarol, who retained their title in 1961. By 1970, Estudiantes had asserted their dominance of the competition, winning 3 successive titles between 1968 and 1970.
The most successful team in the tournament’s history are Argentina’s Independiente, with seven crowns. However, it’s been many decades since they last had success in the tournament. In recent years, Brazilian teams have dominated, with the last 5 tournaments featuring 4 all-Brazilian finals.
The Copa Libertadores has changed and evolved over the years, but it’s always been a knockout competition consisting of the best teams from South America. Since 2004, the winning team of Copa Libertadores plays at the FIFA Club World Cup . In addition, the Copa Libertadores champions play in the Recopa Sudamericana , a two-legged final against the winners of the Copa Sudamericana.
Betting on Copa Libertadores at Stake.com couldn’t be easier. After adding funds to your account, you can place the following bet types:
1x2: A 1x2 bet is a wager on the outcome of a match. 1 refers to the home win, x refers to the draw, and 2 refers to the away win.
Draw no bet: In soccer betting, a draw no bet is a match outcome bet that returns your stake if the game ends in a tie.
Asian total: An Asian total bet is a two-way wager that lets you bet on how many goals you think will be scored in a Copa Libertadores match.
Asian handicap: In an Asian handicap, the favourites are handicapped, and the underdogs are given a head start. If you back the favourites, they will have to overcome their handicap for your bet to be successful.
Double chance: As the name suggests, a double chance bet allows you to bet on two of three outcomes – it typically involves a wager on the win or a tie.
1st goal: This is a proposition bet , where you bet on the team or player you think will score first in a match.
Correct score: In soccer, a correct score bet sees you place a wager on the full-time score, be it 0-0 or 3-1, for instance.
Both teams to score: Rather than focusing on the winners or losers, this lets you wager on whether or not both teams will find the back of the net during a game.
Halftime/fulltime: As soccer is a game of two halves, you can place a bet on how you think the action will go in both the first and the second half of a game.
Multi-bets: Multi-bets or parlays let you combine multiple bets into one. You can even place same-game multi-bets at Stake to increase the odds and potential payout.
Futures: Futures or outright bets let you predict the outcome of the season. You can bet on which team you think will win the whole tournament, as well as which teams will be eliminated from the group stages.
Live Stream Copa Libertadores & Live Betting on Stake Sportsbook
Pre-live and live betting markets are available on all Copa Libertadores fixtures at Stake. For instance, you can make proposition bets on key players, be it the first player to score or a player to receive a yellow card.
Live football betting also involves bets like the next team to score and the number of corners in a half, providing many options once the action is underway. Live stream the action completely free, and place live-wagers based on watching the action unfold in real time. Check out our guide to live streaming sports on Stake for more information.
Copa Libertadores Betting Strategies & Tips
If you’re keen to get amongst the league action and bet on the Copa Libertadores and other sports this season, check out our sports betting tips to find the latest picks, along with our hints to get your strategy started:
Home advantage: Home advantage is a factor to consider in any football match, but it can play a huge role in the outcome of Copa Libertadores matches. In 2024, 54% of teams won at home. However, some teams, such as Club Bolívar, have a 100% home record. This is because their stadium is located at 3,637 metres above sea level, making it a tough place to play for teams not used to the high altitude.
Form and fixture list: Recent form should play a big role in how you choose your bets. However, you should also consider the strength of the opponents that they’ve faced and how many games they’ve had to play in a short time. Teams playing in Brazil's Serie A will face much stronger opposition than those playing in the Peruvian Primera Division, for example.
Key players: There are a lot of highly talented players currently playing in the Copa Libertadores. Some of the greatest players to have set foot on a football pitch have shone in the tournament. Before making your bet, check which players are the stars of each team, and make sure they haven’t suffered any recent injuries or dips in form.
Past winners: Winning the Copa Libertadores is far from easy, so check which teams have a pedigree at the top level before backing them to win the tournament outright. It’s also worth looking at whether they’ve won a title recently when making informed betting decisions. Independiente have won 7 Copa Libertadores in their history, but never in recent history.
Stake VIP Club & Responsible Betting
Ready to bet on the Copa Libertadores at Stake.com? Load up your account with local currency or crypto , read our sports betting guide , and place your bets! Be sure to take advantage of our sports betting bonuses and promos to make the most out of your betting experience.
Our VIP Club allows you to earn regular rewards by placing bets and levelling up your account, including rakeback and reloads . Reach the platinum level, and you can even enjoy your own VIP host . Find out more in our VIP club FAQs. Remember to stay Stake Smart and follow our guides for responsible gambling .
