The preliminary stages of the 2011 Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes consisted of two stages:
The draw was made in Buenos Aires on June 28, 2011. Sixteen teams (all from rest of South America) competed in the First Stage, where they were drawn into eight ties. The eight winners of the First Stage joined another twenty-two teams (six from Argentina, eight from Brazil, eight from rest of South America) to compete in the Second Stage, where they were drawn into fifteen ties.
Teams played in two-legged ties on a home-away basis. Each team earned 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. The following criteria were used for breaking ties on points:
The fifteen winners of the Second Stage advanced to the round of 16 to join the defending champion Independiente.
Team 1 played the second leg at home.
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Nacional won on points 4âÂÂ1.
Santa Fe won on points 4âÂÂ1.
Universidad de Chile won on points 4âÂÂ1.
Tied on points 3âÂÂ3, Deportivo Anzoátegui won on goal difference.
Tied on points 3âÂÂ3, Olimpia won on goal difference.
La Equidad won on points 6âÂÂ0.
Universidad Católica won on points 4âÂÂ1.
LDU Quito won on points 4âÂÂ1.
Team 1 played the second leg at home.
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Vélez Sársfield won on points 4âÂÂ1.
<small>Note: The second leg was suspended at the start of the second half by the referee after a projectile hit a linesman.</small><br> Universidad de Chile won on points 6âÂÂ0.
Tied on points 3âÂÂ3, Vasco da Gama won on away goals.
Libertad won on points 6âÂÂ0.
Universitario won on points 6âÂÂ0.
Tied on points 3âÂÂ3, Arsenal won on goal difference.
Tied on points 2âÂÂ2, Santa Fe won on penalties.
Botafogo won on points 6âÂÂ0.
<small>Note: The second leg was abandoned after 81 minutes by the referee due to objects thrown onto the field.</small><br> Olimpia won on points 6âÂÂ0.
Tied on points 2âÂÂ2, Godoy Cruz won on away goals.
LDU Quito won on points 6âÂÂ0.
Tied on points 3âÂÂ3, São Paulo won on goal difference.
Aurora won on points 4âÂÂ1.
Flamengo won on points 6âÂÂ0.
Universidad Católica won on points 4âÂÂ1.