• Copa Libertadores

Copa Libertadores 2013 live and exclusive on ESPN

Ronaldinho is one of many Copa Libertadores stars © Getty Images

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**South America's equivalent to UEFA Champions League features continent's best teams**

**ESPN to air 32 games, including every game live from quarter-finals onwards**

ESPN will again provide live and exclusive televised coverage of South America's premier club cup competition, the Copa Libertadores - meaning UK fans can see football stars such as Ronaldinho, Luis Fabiano and Alexandre Pato. ESPN also provided coverage of the tournament last season.

ESPN will air a total of 32 games throughout this year's tournament, starting with the first stage preliminary qualifying rounds next week as Brazil's Sao Paulo take on Bolivian outfit Bolivar on Wednesday January 23. ESPN's schedule of further matches will be announced in due course.

The action will continue with a live game each week during the 32-team, eight-group second stage between February 12 and April 18. ESPN will broadcast eight games from the Round of 16 as the tournament enters the knock-out stages, and will then air every game in the competition live from the quarter-finals through to the final. Each knock-out game is a two-legged tie, up to and including the final, which takes place on June 27 and July 4.

Copa Libertadores will give viewers the chance to see the best teams and brightest stars in South American football as they compete for the continent's biggest trophy.

The Copa Libertadores' reigning champions are Sao Paulo giants Corinthians, who beat one of the competition's most decorated teams, Boca Juniors, 3-1 on aggregate in the 2012 final for their first ever title. The Brazilians went on to defeat European club champions Chelsea and win the FIFA Club World Cup in December. Corinthians are once again amongst the top seeds for 2013, along with the likes of Argentina's Arsenal and Velez Sarsfield, Ecuadorian side Barcelona and Sporting Cristal from Peru.

Last season, ESPN broadcast the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, popularly known as "Brasileirao". Alongside ESPN's live games, its coverage of the Copa Libertadores will include repeats of games the following day. The competition joins ESPN's range of top quality domestic and European club football, including the Barclays Premier League, FA Cup, Serie A, Bundesliga, UEFA Europa League, and more.

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