# 1996 Copa Libertadores group stage

The 1996 Copa Libertadores group stage or 1996 Copa Libertadores first stage was played from 13 March to 17 April 1996. A total of 20 teams competed in the group stage to decide 15 places in the final stages of the 1996 Copa Libertadores, where they joined defending champions Grêmio.

## Groups composition

Same as previous editions, the 20 participating teams were divided into 5 groups of 4, which consisted of two teams from one national association and two teams from another. The draw of the tournament was held on 3 November 1995 in Asunción, Paraguay and the paired associations for this edition were as follows:
* Group 1: Paraguay and Ecuador
* Group 2: Uruguay and Peru
* Group 3: Bolivia and Colombia
* Group 4: Brazil and Chile
* Group 5: Argentina and Venezuela

## Format

In the group stage, each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The teams were ranked according to the following criteria: 1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss); 2. Goal difference; 3. Goals scored; 4. Away goals scored; 5. Drawing of lots.
As of this edition, the extra game that was played to define the positions between teams from the same national association in case of a tie in points was no longer held. Therefore, the above criteria were applied to all teams regardless of the national association to which they belong.
The winners, runners-up and third placed teams of each group advanced to the round of 16 of the final stages.

## Groups
### Group 1

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | BAR | CCP | ESP | OLI |
| 1 | Barcelona | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 13 | Round of 16 | — | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 |
| 2 | Cerro Porteño | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 10 | Round of 16 | 1–0 | — | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| 3 | ESPOLI | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 6 | Round of 16 | 1–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–0 |
| 4 | Olimpia | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 5 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | — |

### Group 2

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | PEÑ | DFS | SCR | UNI |
| 1 | Peñarol | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 9 | Round of 16 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| 2 | Defensor Sporting | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | Round of 16 | 2–4 | — | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Sporting Cristal | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 7 | Round of 16 | 3–3 | 0–0 | — | 0–2 |
| 4 | Universitario | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 7 | | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | — |

### Group 3

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AME | JUN | SJO | GUA |
| 1 | América de Cali | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 12 | Round of 16 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
| 2 | Junior | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 10 | Round of 16 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 5–1 |
| 3 | San José | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 9 | Round of 16 | 1–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–1 |
| 4 | Guabirá | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 16 | −9 | 4 | | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | — |

### Group 4

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | COR | UCH | BOT | UCA |
| 1 | Corinthians | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 13 | Round of 16 | — | 3–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 |
| 2 | Universidad de Chile | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | Round of 16 | 1–0 | — | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Botafogo | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | Round of 16 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 4–1 |
| 4 | Universidad Católica | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 13 | −7 | 4 | | 2–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | — |

### Group 5

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | RIV | SLO | MIN | CAR |
| 1 | River Plate | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 3 | +11 | 14 | Round of 16 | — | 0–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
| 2 | San Lorenzo | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 10 | Round of 16 | 1–1 | — | 5–1 | 4–0 |
| 3 | Minervén | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 16 | −8 | 5 | Round of 16 | 1–2 | 2–2 | — | 4–2 |
| 4 | Caracas | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 17 | −11 | 2 | | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |