River's Libertadores Clash With Libertad Moves to Smaller Stadium "La Huerta"

River Plate will face a surprising twist in their upcoming Copa Libertadores Round of 16 match against Libertad. On Thursday, CONMEBOL confirmed that the first leg, originally scheduled to take place at the Defensores del Chaco stadium, will instead be played at Libertad’s home ground, Estadio La Huerta.

The change comes as part of CONMEBOL’s strategic investment in football infrastructure across the continent. La Huerta, recently renovated under this initiative, holds just 15,000 spectators, significantly fewer than Defensores del Chaco. Still, CONMEBOL granted Libertad an exception to host the match at home, highlighting the stadium’s upgrades and compliance with club licensing regulations.

The adjustment affects River supporters as well. Due to the smaller capacity, the Argentine club will receive just 2,000 tickets for traveling fans. It’s a notable limitation, considering River’s massive following and typical away turnout in major continental fixtures.

The stadium’s official reopening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez, APF vice president Javier Díaz de Vivar, Libertad president Rubén Di Tore, and honorary club president Horacio Cartes. Domínguez was honored for his role in advancing Paraguayan and South American football.

According to CONMEBOL, more than 60 stadiums across South America have undergone similar renovations. While the venue change reduces River’s crowd support, it adds another layer of intrigue to a key Libertadores knockout tie, now set to unfold in a more intimate—and partisan—environment.