Barcelona Sporting Club beat Técnico Universitario 1-0 this Sunday, slowing their progress in the Ecuadorian league and taking the lead in the Ecuadorian league at the end of the eighth round.

Uruguayan defender Carlos Paco Rodríguez scored to give Barcelona a 16-point lead, but the result is pending between Liga de Quito and Universidad Católica, whose match was postponed due to the former’s participation in the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana.

The results on the eighth date sharpened the fight at the top and the urgency of the team to be the second finalist for this year’s Ecuadorian league title and the second local qualifier for the group stage of the 2024 Copa Libertadores.

Mushuc Runa and Delfín, although they remained among the first, ended their attack on the first place at the end of the fifteenth round, drawing against Cumbayá and El Nacional, respectively.

Mushuc Runa and Delfín remained with 15 points, one more than Liga de Quito.

The team of Quito has postponed the game against Universidad Católica, because of the strong possibility of becoming a finalist of the Copa Sudamericana in the game against Defensa y Justicia, in Argentina, next Wednesday.

Mushuc Runa failed to recover from last week’s 3-1 defeat against Emelec, drawing 1-1 at home to Cumbaya, with goals from Argentines Sergio González and Agustín Mazier.

Delfín, who won 0-2 until the 61st minute with goals from Argentines Brian Oyola and Alexis Rodríguez, allowed El Nacional to equalize with goals from Jorge Ordóñez and Maicon Solís.

Universidad Católica, which does not yet know when it will face Liga de Quito, has 11 units.

The first finalist of this year’s title and the first local qualifier for Libertadores 2024, Independiente del Valle, defeated Emelec 2-1 and with 11 points also put pressure on the second local ticket, which, if achieved, will allow it to become this year’s champion directly.

Deportivo Cuenca squandered the opportunity to collect 12 points and remained with 10, after 1-1 against Gualace, and El Nacional was in the same situation, with 10 units.

Last year’s champions, Aucas, tasted their first victory in the second phase, defeating the bottom of the tournament, Guayaquil City, 0-1, with a goal from Colombian Jeison Medina.

Orense also bounced back to beat another bottom team, Libertad, 3-0, with goals from Oscar Quiñónez, Dany Coronel and José Miguel Andrade. (D)