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Down South: River Plate travels to earthquake-hit Ecuador in Copa Libertadores

Marcos Brindicci / Reuters

Only 16 clubs remain standing in the Copa Libertadores, one of whom is River Plate, the South American club competition's reigning champion. While that might not sound like a big deal, it absolutely is. On a continent where clubs struggle for stability far more than their European counterparts, it's common for the tournament's reigning champion to miss out on its knockout phase. Such was the case in 2015, when San Lorenzo was eliminated in the group stage.

Out to demonstrate that South American clubs can enjoy an extended period of success, River will take on Independiente del Valle - the Copa Libertadores' lone survivor from Ecuador - in the competition's round of 16.

The clash isn't the product of a draw. In the Copa Libertadores, the bracket for the knockout phase is determined by how clubs perform in the group stage. First plays 16th, second plays 15th, and so on. River was the seventh-best team, setting up a tie against 10th-best Independiente.

River's seeding, however, isn't indicative of just how ruthless the club was in the final third, as Los Millonarios scored a joint-best 17 goals throughout the group stage, including a six-goal performance against The Strongest and a four-goal showing at Trujillanos. For comparison's sake, in last year's Copa Libertadores, Marcelo Gallardo's side squeaked into the knockout phase at the last minute and was seeded 16th, despite eventually going on to win its third title.

River's tie against Independiente will be emotionally charged. Ecuador was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake - its worst in nearly seven decades - that killed 654 people, injured around 12,500, and left 58 missing. Normally divided politically, economically, and socially, the country is now more united than ever.

Related - Watch: Earthquake hits Ecuador as players warm up

Across Ecuador, everyday life is at a standstill as the focus is on providing emergency relief to those affected by the earthquake. Nearly 7,000 buildings were destroyed and more than 26,000 people are living in shelters as 14,000 security personnel are keeping order in the impacted areas where sporadic looting has been reported. Towns on the country's Pacific coast have been reduced to rubble, and survivors have been receiving food, water, and medicine from the nation's government and scores of foreign aid workers. Damage is estimated at between $2 billion and $3 billion.

The solidarity in Ecuador will be on full display when Independiente hosts River in the tie's first leg. Moved from the 8,000-capacity Estadio Municipal Ruminahui to the 41,000-capacity Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa, where Ecuador's national team plays, the fixture will serve as a welcome distraction from the tragedy. It'll be played as Ecuador observes eight days of national mourning.

Even Liga Deportivo Universitaria de Quito, the champion of the 2008 Copa Libertadores who was bounced in the group stage of this year's competition, is encouraging the Ecuadorian population to fill Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa. Such support isn't characteristic of Ecuador, where clubs generally don't wish well on the country's other clubs.

In another show of togetherness, 100 percent of the money that's collected at the ticket booth for the match will be donated to the victims of the earthquake.

Football is second in Ecuador as the country recovers from a tragedy beyond words, but, for 90 minutes at least, Independiente will try to give its people something to celebrate. In a nation where football is life, what could make its people happier than dethroning the reigning champion?

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