There was an obvious fear hanging over the last of the quarterfinal first-leg ties in South America's Copa Libertadores.

Colo Colo of Chile had home advantage. But they looked outgunned against Palmeiras of Brazil, who had won all of their previous away games in the competition. The Chileans would almost certainly make a cautious start, trying to make sure they did not concede an away goal, and hoping their impish playmaker Jorge Valdivia could come up with a piece of magic to break the deadlock.

Palmeiras...

There are two outsiders in the quarterfinals of South America's Copa Libertadores. Chile's Colo Colo are the only team left from outside Brazil and Argentina. And of the eight remaining teams, Atletico Tucuman are the only one which has never lifted the trophy.

And, barring a remarkable turnaround, the club from the north of Argentina will have to wait at least another year. The first club from the region to take part in the competition, they made their debut only last year and have exceeded expectations...

The quarterfinals kick off this week in the Copa Libertadores, South America's Champions League.

The eight teams left standing in the competition contain seven former winners -- and two outsiders. And if that comes across as a mathematical impossibility, it is easily explained.

Argentina and Brazil dominate. The rest of the continent has a sole representative, Colo Colo of Chile. The Santiago giants have one Libertadores title to their name, all the way back in 1991. Their recent record, though,...

Last week I was asked what I most liked about covering South American football. The reply I gave -- the thought that first came into my head -- was the immense privilege of getting an early view at the finest talent in the global game. There are too many examples to mention, but at the top of the list would be a tiny, 17-year-old Lionel Messi playing for Argentina's Under-20s at the start of 2005, or a 10 minute glimpse of Neymar at Santos back in 2009.

But I perhaps should have mentioned something...