2012 Copa Sudamericana preliminary stages

The preliminary stages of the 2012 Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes consisted of two stages:
 * First Stage (first legs: July 24–26, July 31–August 2; second legs: August 7–9, 14–16, 21, 23)
 * Second Stage, divided into three sections:
 * Argentina (first legs: August 16, 22–23; second legs: August 29–30)
 * Brazil (first legs: July 31–August 1; second legs: August 21–23)
 * Rest of South America (first legs: August 28–30; second legs: September 18–20)

Format
The draw was made in Luque on June 29, 2012. Thirty-two teams (all from rest of South America) competed in the First Stage, where they were drawn into sixteen ties. The sixteen winners of the First Stage joined another fourteen teams (six from Argentina, eight from Brazil) 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 Universidad de Chile.
 * 1) Goal difference
 * 2) Away goals
 * 3) Penalty shootout (no extra time is played)

First stage
Team 1 played the second leg at home.

!colspan=6|South Zone

!colspan=6|North Zone


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Match G1
Olimpia won on points 4–1.

Match G2
Tied on points 3–3, Nacional won on goal difference.

Match G3
Universidad Católica won on points 4–1.

Match G4
Tied on points 3–3, Guaraní won on away goals.

Match G5
Liverpool won in points 6–0.

Match G6
Aurora won in points 4–1.

Match G7
Cobreloa won on points 4–1.

Match G8
Cerro Porteño won on points 4–1.

Match G9
Millonarios won on points 4–1.

Match G10
Emelec won on points 4–1.

Match G11
Mineros won on points 6–0.

Match G12
Barcelona won on points 4–1.

Match G13
Deportes Tolima won on points 4–1.

Match G14
Deportivo Quito won on points 6–0.

Match G15
Envigado won on points 4–1.

Match G16
LDU Loja won on points 6–0.

Second stage

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Match O1
Millonarios won on points 4–1.

Match O2
São Paulo won on points 6–0.

Match O3
Note: Second leg postponed from September 19 due to bad weather. Liverpool won on points 4–1.

Match O4
Tigre won on points 6–0.

Match O5
Cerro Porteño won on points 4–1.

Match O6
Tied on points 2–2, Atlético Goianiense won on penalties.

Match O7
Emelec won on points 4–1.

Match O8
Tied on points 3–3, Grêmio won on away goals.

Match O9
Barcelona won on points 4–1.

Match O11
Tied on points 3–3, Universidad Católica won on away goals.

Match O12
Colón won on points 6–0.

Match O13
Deportivo Quito won on points 6–0.

Match O14
Tied on points 2–2, Independiente won on away goals.

Match O15
Tied on points 3–3, LDU Loja won on away goals.

Match O16
Tied on points 3–3, Palmeiras won on away goals.