Copa Sudamericana 2013: Most Intriguing Matches in Round of 16 Schedule

It may not be Europe's Champions League—or even the Europa League, for that matter—but South America's Copa Sudamericana remains one of the most intriguing continental club tournaments on the planet.  

With the tournament now reaching the round of 16 stage, let's take a look at some of the more intriguing matchups on the docket. 

Copa Sudamericana Round of 16 Schedule

Home Team		Away Team	1st Leg		Time (ET)
Sao Paulo		Universidad Catolica	Thur, Sept. 26		8:50 p.m.
LDU Loja		River Plate	Thur, Sept. 19		8:15 p.m.
Ponte Preta		Deportivo Pasto	Wed, Sept. 25		6:30 p.m.
Libertad		Sport Recife	Wed, Sept. 25		8:50 p.m.
Coritiba		Itagui	Tue, Sept. 24		8 p.m.
La Equidad		Vélez Sarsfield	Wed, Sept. 18		9:30 p.m.
Lanus		Universidad de Chile	Wed, Sept. 18		7:15 p.m.
Atletico Nacional		Bahia	Thur, Sept. 26		8:50 p.m.
Home Team		Away Team	2nd Leg		Time (ET)
Universidad Catolica		Sao Paulo	Wed, Oct. 23		7:50 p.m.
River Plate		LDU Loja	Thur, Sept. 26		6:30 p.m.
Deportivo Pasto		Ponte Preta	Tue, Oct. 22		8:15 p.m.
Sport Recife		Libertad	Wed, Oct. 23		7:50 p.m.
Itagui		Coritiba	Thur, Oct. 24		9 p.m.
Vélez Sarsfield		La Equidad	Wed, Oct. 2		8:15 p.m.
Universidad de Chile		Lanus	Wed, Sept. 25		6:30 p.m.
Bahia		Atletico Nacional	Thur, Oct. 24		6:30 p.m.

Sao Paulo vs. Universidad Catolica

One of the more intriguing matchups will be the famous Brazilian side, Sao Paulo, taking on the current leader on the Chile Primera Division table, Universidad Catolica.

Sao Paulo is led by the exciting No. 10, Ganso, a true talent who somewhat surprisingly spurned European football and, instead, joined Sao Paulo from Santos, unlike former teammate Neymar, who, of course, is now in Barcelona. Aloisio and Luis Fabiano pace the club with five goals apiece. 

The visitors are not to be trifled with, however. Milovan Mirosevic (two goals, one assist in league play) and Ismael Sosa (four goals) will give the Brazilian side all they can handle.

LDU Loja vs. River Plate

The famous Argentine side, River Plate, will be tested in a big way in a road fixture at LDU Loja of Ecuador. 

River Plate has not started strongly this year, taking just eight points from seven Primera División de Argentina, dropping to 15th on the table. 

Loja isn't faring much better, currently eighth of 12 on the Primera A de Ecuador table. For both of these clubs, moving on in the Copa Sudamericana will alleviate the pressure of disappointing domestic campaigns thus far. 

Lanus vs. Universidad de Chile

Behind Santiago Silva and Lautaro Acosta, along with a stingy defense, Lanus will be a tough team to beat, especially at home. The team currently sits in fifth place on the Primera División de Argentina table, but has played quite well overall in the Copa Sudamericana.

Perhaps not as well as Universidad de Chile, however, which has treated the tournament, thus far, as its own whipping boy. With a dangerous attack, the Chilean side will be looking to steal some points on the road. 

Don't count on Lanus allowing that to happen at home, however. This will be a spirited match, but Lanus won't lose in front of the home supporters.