BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -With every team at or beyond the midpoint of the group phase, clubs are now closing on the second round of the Copa Libertadores.

Liga de Quito became the first team to secure a spot in the knockout stage on Wednesday, and River Plate and Estudiantes of Argentina and Brazil's Cruzeiro and Fluminense can join it this week.

On Wednesday, River Plate faces America in Mexico while Estudiantes plays against local rival Lanus in Buenos Aires. Fluminense hosts Libertad of Paraguay on the same day, and Cruzeiro hosts Argentina's San Lorenzo on Thursday.

Six other matches also are set for this week in Latin America's most important club tournament.

River Plate travels to Mexico as the Group 5 leader with nine points, three more than America and San Martin of Peru. Chile's Universidad Catolica, which hosts San Martin on Tuesday, trails with three points.

While America is in last place in the Mexican Clausura tournament, River Plate leads the Argentine league.

"I take responsibility for what is happening,'' America coach Ruben Romano said after his team's 4-0 defeat to Veracruz on Saturday. "We can't stop fighting and hopefully we will earn a good result against River Plate on Wednesday.''

Estudiantes faces Lanus holding on to a one-point lead against its fellow Argentine club in Group 2. Estudiantes has seven points, one more than Deportivo Cuenca of Ecuador and three more than Uruguay's Danubio.

Cruzeiro hosts San Lorenzo in Group 1 looking to clinch its berth in the next round. The Brazilians lead the group with eight points, one more than San Lorenzo and Venezuela's Caracas. Already eliminated Real Potosi of Bolivia, which hosts Caracas on Tuesday, is last with zero points.

Also Tuesday, Brazil's Santos hosts Bolivia's San Jose with the winner moving closer to the second round and the loser closer to elimination.

Santos and San Jose have four points each in Group 6, four less than leader Cucuta Deportivo of Colombia. Mexico's Chivas is last with three points. Both Chivas and Cucuta already have played four matches.

The winner of Tuesday's match will reach sole possession of second place, staying three points clear from the opponent with two matches remaining.

The top two clubs in each of the eight first-round groups advance to the round of 16.

Santos has turned its focus solely to the Copa Libertadores. The two-time champion was eliminated from the traditional Sao Paulo state championship on Saturday after a 1-1 draw against Rio Claro.

"We are frustrated with what happened,'' coach Emerson Leao said. "Now we need to think only in the Libertadores match. We need to win it.''

Fluminense plays Libertad in Rio de Janeiro hoping to become the second team to advance from Group 8 along with Liga de Quito. Fluminense has seven points, four more than Argentina's Arsenal. Libertad is yet to earn a point.

Sao Paulo will host Sportivo Luqueno of Paraguay at Morumbi stadium on Wednesday. The Brazilians are atop Group 7 with five points, one more than Luqueno and Colombia's Atletico Nacional. Chile's Audax Italino, which plays at Atletico Nacional on Thursday, has three points and remains in contention.

Also Thursday, Uruguay's Nacional hosts Coronel Bolognesi of Peru in Group 4. Peru's Cienciano and Brazil's Flamengo lead the group with seven points each, one more than Nacional and five more than Coronel Bolognesi.