Copa Libertadores Trivia


Defending the Trophy

It has become increasingly difficult to retain the Copa Libertadores, 
mostly because of change in the tournament system. Currently the defending 
champion enters in an earlier stage than in previous cups.
Whereas in the first twenty years of its existence (1960-79), a prolonged 
dominance for one club was common-place, these days even one successful 
defence is a rare occurrence.
 
The following series of consecutive wins have been achieved:
 
4�� (1972-73-74-75)Independiente (Arg)
 3�� (1968-69-70)���� Estudiantes (Arg)
 2�� (1960-61)������� Pe�arol (Uru)
���� (1962-63)������� Santos (Bra)
���� (1964-65)������� Independiente (Arg)
���� (1977-78)������� Boca Juniors (Arg)
���� (1992-93)������� S�o Paulo F.C. (Bra)
���� (2000-01)���� ���Boca Juniors (Arg)
 
 
Other series: Consecutive wins by countries:
 
4�� (1967-68-69-70)Argentina (Racing Club, Estudiantes)
���� (1972-73-74-75)Argentina (Independiente)
 3�� (1984-85-86)���� Argentina (Independiente, Argentinos Juniors, River Plate)
���� (1997-98-99)���� Brazil (Cruzeiro, Vasco da Gama, Palmeiras)
 2�� (1960-61)������� Uruguay (Pe�arol)
���� (1962-63)������� Brazil (Santos)
���� (1964-65)������� Argentina (Independiente)
���� (1977-78)������� Argentina (Boca Juniors)
���� (1987-88)������� Uruguay (Pe�arol, Nacional)
���� (1992-93)������� Brazil (S�o Paulo F.C.)
���� (2000-01)������� Argentina (Boca Juniors)
 
In 1981-82, Cobreloa (Chi) became the first team to lose consecutive finals. 
Their record was broken in 1985-87 when Am�rica (Col) lost three finals.

Winning the Cup Unbeaten

Unbeaten winners are a rare occurrence; it only occurred during the first 
twenty years when defending champions only had to play few matches.
 
All unbeaten winners with their P-W-D-L-F-A records:
 
1960Pe�arol (Uru)��������� 734013- 5
1963Santos (Bra)���������� 431010- 4[defending champion]
1964Independiente (Arg)��� 752017- 6
1969Estudiantes (Arg)����� 4400�� 9- 2[defending champion]
1970Estudiantes (Arg) �����4310�� 5- 1[defending champion]
1978Boca Juniors (Arg)���� 642011- 2[defending champion]

Consecutive Participations

The record number of consecutive participations in the Copa Libertadores is 15,
held by Pe�arol.All clubs to play at least 4 times successive tournaments
are included below:
 
15Pe�arol [Uru] (1965-1979)
 
14Cerro Porte�o [Par] (1990-2003)
 
10River Plate [Arg] (1995-2004) [*]
��� Sporting Cristal [Per] (1995-2004) [*]
 
9Nacional [Uru] (1966-1974)
 
 8Nacional [Uru] (1997-2004) [*]
 
7Olimpia [Par] (1998-2004) [*]
 
 6Olimpia [Par] (1972-1977) 
����Portuguesa [Ven] (1974-1979)
��� Olimpia [Par] (1979-1984)
��� Am�rica [Col] (1983-1988)
��� Olimpia [Par] (1986-1991)
��� Colo Colo [Chi] (1987-1992)
��Universidad Cat�lica [Chi] (1995-2000)
 
 5Cerro Porte�o [Par] (1971-1975)
��� Independiente [Arg] (1972-1976)
��� Pe�arol [Uru] (1985-1989)
��� Atl�tico Nacional [Col] (1989-1993)
��� Barcelona [Ecu] (1990-1994)
��� Bol�var [Bol] (1991-1995)
��� Emelec [Ecu] (1999-2003)
��� Boca Juniors [Arg] (2000-2004) [*]
��� Cobreloa [Chi] (2000-2004) [*]
��� El Nacional [Ecu] (2000-2004) [*]
��� Pe�arol [Uru] (2000-2004) [*]
 
 4Santos [Bra] (1962-1965)
��� Guaran� [Par] (1965-1968)
��� Universitario [Per] (1965-1968)
��� Universidad Cat�lica [Chi] (1966-1969)
��� Deportivo Cali [Col] (1968-1971)
��� Estudiantes [Arg] (1968-1971)
��� Universitario [Per] (1970-1973)
��� Uni�n Espa�ola [Chi] (1973-1976)
��� Flamengo [Bra] (1981-1984)
��� Nacional [Uru] (1991-1994)
��� Olimpia [Par] (1993-1996)
��� Gr�mio[Bra] (1995-1998)
��� Pe�arol [Uru] (1995-1998)
��� Am�rica [Col] (2000-2003)
 
 [*] Denotes a series in progress.
 

Teams With Most Participations

From 1960 until 2004 (45 editions), 159 teams have participated in Copa Libertadores
(there are 5 other teams which have participated in six preliminary tournaments 1998
to 2003).There are 28 teams with 10 or more participations:
 
36Pe�arol [Uru]
35Olimpia [Par]
31Nacional [Uru]
28Cerro Porte�o [Par]
25River Plate [Arg]
24Universitario de Deportes [Per], Sporting Cristal [Per]
22Colo Colo [Chi], Bol�var [Bol]
21Barcelona [Ecu]
19Universidad Cat�lica [Chi], El Nacional [Ecu]
18Independiente [Arg], Alianza Lima [Per], Boca Juniors [Arg]
17Am�rica [Col], Emelec [Ecu], Deportivo Cali [Col]
15Oriente Petrolero [Bol], Jorge Wilstermann [Bol], The Strongest [Bol]
14Millonarios [Col]
13Universidad de Chile [Chi]
12Atl�tico Nacional [Col]
11Palmeiras [Bra], Cobreloa [Chi]
10Gr�mio [Bra], Guaran� [Par]
 
 
By country the teams with most participations are:
 
Argentina: River Plate, 25
Bolivia: Bol�var, 22
Brazil: Palmeiras, 11
Chile: Colo Colo, 22
Colombia: Am�rica, Deportivo Cali, 17
Ecuador: Barcelona, 21
Mexico: Am�rica, 4
Paraguay: Olimpia, 35
Peru: Universitario de Deportes, Sporting Cristal, 24
Uruguay: Pe�arol, 36
Venezuela: Deportivo Galicia, 9
 

Participations in the Final and Consecutive Finalists

Pe�arol is the team with most final appearances: 9.
Teams with at least 3 appearances are:
 
9Pe�arol��������� (5 wins, 4 losses)
8 Boca Juniors (5 wins, 3 losses)
7Independiente��� (7 wins)
6Nacional�������� (3 wins, 3 losses)
�� Olimpia��������� (3 wins, 3 losses)
4Estudiantes����� (3 wins, 1 loss)
�� River Plate����� (2 wins, 2 losses)
�� S�o Paulo F.C.�� (2 wins, 2 losses)
�� Palmeiras������� (1 win,3 losses)
�� Am�rica����������������� (4 losses)
3Gr�mio���������� (2 wins, 1 loss)
�� Cruzeiro�������� (2 wins, 1 loss)
�� Santos���������� (2 wins, 1 loss)
 
 
Considering consecutive participations in the final (whether won or lost),
Estudiantes (1968-71) and Independiente (1972-75) share the record with 4
participations. But whereas Independiente won all 4 finals, Estudiantes 
lost the last one.
 
Teams with 3 consecutive final appearances are: Pe�arol (1960-62), Boca 
Juniors (1977-79), Am�rica (1985-87), Olimpia (1989-91), S�o Paulo F.C.
(1992-94). Pe�arol, Boca Juniors and S�o Paulo, lost their third final. Olimpia 
only won the second final. Finally, Am�rica lost all the 3 consecutive
finals, which is a tournament record.
 
The first team to lose consecutive finals was Cobreloa (Chi) in 1981 and 1982.

Unlucky Finalists and Other Final's Stuff

Besides the 20 teams that have won Copa Libertadores, 12 other teams have
been unlucky finalists (in total 32 teams reached the final). This is the 
list of unlucky finalists:
 
4Am�rica (Col)[3 of them consecutive]
2Barcelona (Ecu), Cobreloa (Chi) [2 consecutive], Newell's Old Boys (Arg),
�� Deportivo Cali (Col)
1Cruz Azul (Mex), Internacional (Bra), S�o Caetano (Bra), Sporting Cristal (Per),
�� Uni�n Espa�ola (Chi), Universidad Cat�lica (Chi), Universitario (Per)
 
Other curiosities:
 
��Six (6) teams appeared only once in the Final and they won it. These are:
Racing Club (1967), Flamengo (1981), Argentinos Juniors (1985), V�lez Sarsfield (1994),
Vasco da Gama (1998), and Once Caldas (2004).
 
��Only one team has a perfect final record: Independiente 7 (7 wins!)
�� 
��Ten (10)) times the defending champion lost in the final: Pe�arol (1962), 
��Estudiantes (1971), Cruzeiro (1977), Boca Juniors (1979), Pe�arol (1983), 
��Gr�mio (1984), Olimpia (1991), S�o Paulo F.C. (1994), Palmeiras (2000), and Boca Juniors (2004).
 
��In contrast, twice a beaten finalist went one better the next season:
Pe�arol (1966, runners-up in 1965) and Olimpia (1990, runners-up in 1989).

Domestically Best Winners

Several times the winner of the Copa Libertadores also won their national 
championship, thereby obtaining a double.
 
In all, the double of Copa Libertadores and domestic league has been won on
14 occasions by 8 different teams:
 
3Pe�arol (1960, 1961, 1982)
2Santos (1962, 1963)
�� Nacional (1971, 1980)
�� River Plate (1986, 1996)
 Boca Juniors (2000, 2003)
1Olimpia (1979) 
���Argentinos Juniors (1985)
�� Colo Colo (1991)
 
It must be said that Santos were winners of Ta�a Brasil.At that time Brazil 
did not have a national championship and the Ta�a Brasil qualified teams for
the Copa Libertadores.
 
In 1996 River Plate won the Apertura Championship. In 2000 and 2003, Boca Juniors
Also won the Apertura Championship; the Argentine season is currently divided into
two tournaments, Apertura and Clausura.
 
Independiente, the record winner (7 titles), never obtained the double.

Beating the Holders

In the 45 Copa Libertadores tournaments played since 1960, the holders were
eliminated on 33 times (11 times they retained the title and in the first
tournament of course no holders took part).
 
River Plate is the club who most often eliminated the defending champions: they 
managed to do this on 4 occasions, in 1 of which they went on to win themselves.
Olimpia beat the holder, the three times that the won the tournament. Significantly, they
made it twice after 1987, when the rules change (see below).
 
All clubs to eliminate the defending champions more than once (seasons in
which they won themselves in bold):
 
4River Plate [Arg]������ (1966, 1976, 1986, 1995)
 
3Nacional [Uru]��������� (1967, 1971, 1980)
�� Olimpia [Par]���������� (1979, 1990, 2002)
 
2 Boca Juniors [Arg]����� (1977, 2000)
�� Gr�mio [Bra]����������� (1983, 2003)
�� Independiente [Arg]���� (1964, 1984)
�� Pe�arol [Uru]���������� (1982, 1987)
�� 
There are 15 teams who eliminated the holders once.
 
It should be pointed out that from 1960 until 1987, the team eliminating the 
holders had a fifty-fifty chance of winning the tournament, as holders entered
Copa Libertadores only at the semifinal stage.
 
Elimination of holders by country:
 
 Argentina��� 13 eliminations�� (River Plate 4, Independiente 2, Boca Juniors 2,
�������������������������������� Estudiantes 1, Argentinos Juniors 1, San Lorenzo 1,
�������������������������������� V�lez Sarsfield 1, Racing Club 1)
 Uruguay������ 6 eliminations�� (Nacional 3, Pe�arol 2, Danubio 1)
 Brazil������� 5 eliminations�� (Gr�mio 2, Santos 1, Vasco da Gama 1, Palmeiras 1)
 Paraguay����� 3 eliminations�� (Olimpia 3)
 Chile�������� 2 eliminations�� (Cobreloa 1, Colo Colo 1)
 Colombia����� 2 eliminations�� (Am�rica 1, Once Caldas 1)
 Ecuador������ 1 elimination��� (Barcelona 1)
 Peru��������� 1 elimination��� (Universitario 1)
 
Miscellaneous facts: 
 
- No team has been able to perform this feat in consecutive seasons.
- Twenty-two times (22) the team who beat the holders eventually won that year�s 
��tournament; this happened 14 times until 1987 and only 8 times since 1988 
��(when the format waschanged).
- Ten times (10) the holders were beaten in the final (6 times before 1988).
- Four times (4) the team who beat the holders lost in the final (all before 1988).
- The three tiemes that Olimpia beat the holders, they also won the tournament.
- The two times that Boca Juniors beat the holders both happened in the final.

Winners of Other South-American Tournaments

Supercopa � Copa Conmebol
 
There were two other main club tournaments, that are no longer played: from 1988
to 1997 the Supercopa and since 1992 to 1999 the Copa Conmebol.
A club was able to participate in both Copa Libertadores and Supercopa in the same year
(as the Supercopa was a tournament for former winners of the Copa Libertadores winners), 
and until 1994 it was also possible for clubs to participate in Copa Conmebol
and the Copa Libertadores.
Finally, Libertadores and Supercopa winners played for the Recopa.
 
Twice the double Libertadores-Supercopa was won: 
Olimpia (1990) and S�o Paulo F.C. (1993).
 
Two teams have won the Copa Libertadores and Copa Conmebol, but not in the same 
year: S�o Paulo F.C. and Santos.As in 1994 S�o Paulo F.C. won Copa 
Conmebol and was Copa Libertadores runner-up, CONMEBOL ruled that if a team
is qualified for theCopa Libertadores it may not enter the Copa Conmebol in 
the same year (obviously this rule only concerned Copa Libertadores holders).
 
Copa Merconorte � Copa Mercosur
 
From 1998 until 2001, other two tournaments were played, in which clubs that
participated in Copa Libertadores were also engaged: Copa Mercosur and Copa Merconorte.
No team ever won a double: however, in 1999 Palmeiras won Libertadores and was
Mercosur runner-up and in 2000 Palmeiras was runner-up in both tournaments.
 
Copa Sudamericana
 
Since 2002 a new tournament, Copa Sudamericana, takes place during the second half 
of the year. Teams can participated in both tournaments (Libertadores and Sudamericana)
on the same year. So far, no team has won the double.

Penalty Shootouts

From 1960 until 1987, Copa Libertadores was played mostly in groups. Only the
finals and in some years the semifinals were played home and away; and even in 
those cases when teams were tied on points (no matter the goal difference, no 
away goals rule, no extra time) a third match was played. Therefore penalty 
shootouts were a rare event and happened only 3 times. When the system was 
changed in 1988 (a first round in groups and then a knock-out tournament with
no third matches anymore) penalty shootouts became a more frequent event, in
particular since there is no away goals rule nor extra-time.
 
There have been nine (10) penalty shootouts in the final of the Copa Libertadores:
 
1977Boca Juniors - Cruzeiro������������ 5-4(10 penalties)
1985Argentinos Juniors - Am�rica������� 5-4(10 penalties)
1989Atl�tico Nacional - Olimpia�������� 5-4(18 penalties)
1992S�o Paulo F.C. - Newell's Old Boys3-2(9 penalties)
1994V�lez Sarsfield - S�o Paulo F.C.��� 5-3(9 penalties)
1999Palmeiras - Deportivo Cali��������� 4-3(10 penalties)
2000Boca Juniors - Palmeiras����������� 4-2(8 penalties)
2001Boca Juniors � Cruz Azul����������� 3-1(8 penalties)
2002Olimpia � S�o Caetano�������������� 4-2(8 penalties)
2004Once Caldas � Boca Juniors��������� 2-0(8 penalties)
 
Other shootouts (between brackets the number of penalties taken):
 
1987Am�rica - Deportivo Cali���������������� 4-2(8)First Round - Group 2, playoff
1988Newell's Old Boys - Bol�var������������� 3-2 (10)Second Round
1989Millonarios - Bol�var�� �����������������4-3 (10)Second Round
����� Sol de Am�rica - Uni�n Atl�tico T�chira3-2 (10)"����� "
����� Olimpia - Boca Juniors������������������ 7-6 (18)"����� "
����� Olimpia - Internacional����������������� 5-3(9)Semifinal
1990Vasco da Gama - Colo Colo��������������� 5-4 (10)Second Round
����� Olimpia - Atl�tico Nacional������������� 2-1 (12)Semifinal
����� Barcelona - River Plate����������������� 4-3(9)"
1992San Lorenzo - V�ldez Sport Club��������� 6-5 (16)Second Round
����� Barcelona - Cerro Porte�o��������������� 4-3(9)Quarterfinal
����� Newell's Old Boys - Am�rica����������� 11-10 (26)Semifinal
1993Cerro Porte�o - Olimpia����������������� 4-2(9)Quarterfinal
1994V�lez Sarsfield - Defensor Sporting����� 4-3 (10) Second Round
����� Minerv�n - Emelec����������������������� 4-2(8)"����� "
����� Atl�tico Junior - Colo Colo������������� 4-3 (10)"����� "
����� V�lez Sarsfield - Atl�tico Junior������� 5-4 (12)Semifinal
����� S�o Paulo F.C. - Olimpia������������ ����4-3 (10)"
1995Emelec - Cerro Porte�o������������������ 5-4 (10)Second Round
����� River Plate - V�lez Sarsfield����������� 5-3(9)Quarterfinal
����� Atl�tico Nacional - River Plate��������� 8-7 (16)Semifinal
1996Universidad de Chile - Defensor Sporting 7-6 (16)Second Round
����� Barcelona - San Jos��������������������� 4-2(9)"����� "
1997Gr�mio - Guaran������������������������� 2-1 (10)Second Round
����� Pe�arol - Millonarios������������������� 3-2(9)"����� "
����� Cruzeiro - El Nacional������������������ 5-3(9)"����� "
����� Racing Club - River Plate��������������� 5-3(9)"����� "
����� Racing Club - Pe�arol������������������� 3-2 (10)Quarterfinal
����� Cruzeiro - Colo Colo�������������������� 4-1(7)Semifinal
1998Col�n - Olimpia������������������������� 2-1(9)Second Round
����� Pe�arol - Alianza Lima������������������ 3-1(7)"����� "
����� Barcelona - Cerro Porte�o��������������� 4-3 (10)Semifinal
1999River Plate - L.D.U. Quito�������������� 5-4 (10)Second round
����� Palmeiras - Corinthians����������������� 4-2(8)Quarterfinal
2000Atletico Mineiro - Atletico Paranaense�� 5-3(9)Second Round
����� Corinthians - Rosario Central����������� 4-3 (10)"����� "
����� Bol�var - Nacional���������� ������������5-3(9)"����� "
����� Palmeiras - Pe�arol��������������������� 3-2(9)"����� "
����� Palmeiras - Corinthians����������������� 5-4 (10)Semifinal
2001Palmeiras � S�o Caetano����������������� 5-3(9)Second Round
����� Rosario Central � Am�rica��������������� 4-3 (16)Quarterfinal
����� Palmeiras � Cruzeiro�������������������� 4-3 (14)"����� "
����� Boca Juniors � Palmeiras���������������� 3-2(9)Semifinal
2002S�o Caetano � Universidad Cat�lica������ 4-2(9)Second Round
���� Pe�arol � Montevideo Wanderers���������� 3-0(7)"����� "
����� S�o Caetano � Pe�arol������������������� 3-1(8)Quarterfinal
����� Olimpia � Gr�mio������������������������ 5-4 (10)Semifinal
2003Cruz Azul � Deportivo Cali�������������� 3-2(9)Second Round
����� Santos � Nacional����������������������� 3-1(7)"����� "
����� Independiente Medell�n � Cerro Porte�o�� 4-2(9)"����� "
����� Am�rica � Racing Club������������������� 6-5 (12)"����� "
2004S�o Caetano � Independiente �������������4-2(8)First Round Playoff
����� Santos � L.D.U. Quito������������������� 5-3(9)Second Round
����� River Plate � Santos Laguna������������� 4-2(9)"����� "
����� S�o Paulo F.C. � Rosario Central ��������5-4 (12)"����� "
����� Deportivo Cali � Cruzeiro ���������������3-0(7)"����� "
����� Once Caldas � Barcelona �����������������4-2(8)"����� "
����� Boca Juniors - S�o Caetano�������������� 4-3 (12)Quarterfinal
����� Boca Juniors � River Plate�������������� 5-4 (10)Semifinal
 
 

"Runners-Up" that were Champions

Since 1966 countries entered two teams.In some cases it was the league 
runner-up, in others the winner of an end-season tournament or the winner of a cup tournament.
Starting from 2000 the number of teams was increased to 32, therefore some countries entered 3 teams, 
and furthemrore, some countries they even entered a fourth team.
 
Teams that have won the Copa Libertadores, participating as their country's 
"runners-up" are:
 
1976Cruzeiro����������� [1975 Brazilian League runner-up]
1980Nacional�� ���������[1979 Uruguayan League runner-up] 
1983Gr�mio������������� [1982 Brazilian League runner-up]
1988Nacional����������� [1987 Uruguayan League runner-up]
1989Atl�tico Nacional�� [1988 Colombian League runner-up]
1995Gr�mio������������� [1994 Copa Brasil winner]
1997Cruzeiro����������� [1996 Copa Brasil winner]
1999Palmeiras���������� [1998 Copa Brasil winner]
2002Olimpia������������ [2001 Paraguayan League third placed team]
2003Boca Juniors������� [2001-02 Argentinian League, third placed in the aggregated table; neither won Apertura or Clausura tournaments]
 
Cruzeiro and Gr�mio twice won the Copa Libertadores, each time without 
being the Brazilian champion.
 
Also some of the teams that defended the Copa Libertadores title were not 
national league champions (or even runners-up).These teams would not have
played in the Copa Libertadores had they not been the defending champions:
 
1965Independiente������ [1964 Argentinian League runner-up]������� 
1969Estudiantes�������� [1968 Argentinian League runner-up]
1970Estudiantes�������� [1969 Argentinian League, 5th place]
1973Independiente������ [1972 Argentinian League, 11th place]
1974Independiente����� [1973 Argentinian League, 4th place]
1975Independiente������ [1974 Argentinian League, 7th place]
1978Boca Juniors������� [1977 Argentinian League, 4th place]
1993S�o Paulo F.C.����� [1992 Brazilian League, 6th place]
 
Note: In every case "Argentinian League" refers to the "Campeonato Metropolitano". 

Copa Libertadores Records

Note: Home and away matches played in group stages are treated as "cup match" ties. 

Overall records:

Highest win in one match:19701st Round Group 2: Pe�arol - Valencia (Ven) 11-2
 
Highest aggregate win: 19631st Round Group 2: Everest (Ecu) - Pe�arol 0-5
����������������������������������������������� Pe�arol - Everest������ 9-1
���������������������� Pe�arol win 14-1 on aggregate
 
Most goals in game: 19701st Round Group 2: Pe�arol - Valencia (Ven) 11-2
������������������� Total 13 goals
 
Most goals in tie: 19631st Round Group 2: Everest (Ecu) - Pe�arol 0-5
������������������������������������������� Pe�arol - Everest������ 9-1
������������������ Pe�arol win 14-1 on aggregate, total 15 goals
 
�������If a third play-off match is considered as part of the tie, the record is:
 
�������������������1965Semifinal: Santos - Pe�arol�� 5-4
����������������������������������� Pe�arol - Santos�� 3-2
���������������������� �������������Pe�arol - Santos�� 2-1(in Buenos Aires)
������������������ Pe�arol win 9-8 on aggregate, total 17 goals
 

Records in Finals:

Highest win: 1993S�o Paulo F.C. - Universidad Cat�lica��� 5-1
 
Highest aggregate win: 2003Boca Juniors � Santos ������2-0
���������������������������� Santos � Boca Juniors������ 1-3
���������������������� Boca Juniors win 5-1 on aggregate
 
Most goals: 1966Pe�arol - River Plate��� 2-0
����������������� River Plate - Pe�arol��� 3-2
����������������� Pe�arol - River Plate��� 4-2 [aet](in Santiago de Chile)
����������� Pe�arol win 8-5 on aggregate, total 13 goals
 
������������1976Cruzeiro - River Plate�� 4-1
����������������� River Plate - Cruzeiro�� 2-1
����������������� Cruzeiro - River Plate�� 3-2(in Santiago de Chile)
����������� Cruzeiro win 8-5 on aggregate, total 13 goals
 
������If we only consider finals settled over two legs the record is:
 
������������1963Santos - Boca Juniors��� 3-2
����������������� Boca Juniors - Santos��� 1-2
�� ���������Santos win 5-3 on aggregate, total 8 goals
 
������������1993S�o Paulo F.C. - Universidad Cat�lica5-1
����������������� Universidad Cat�lica - S�o Paulo F.C.2-0
����������� S�o Paulo F.C. win 5-3 on aggregate, total 8 goals
 
Most goals in one match: 1966 Pe�arol - River Plate���������������� 4-2
������������������������ 1993 S�o Paulo F.C. - Universidad Cat�lica 5-1
������������������������ Total 6 goals

Unbeaten Series

Sporting Cristal (Per) holds the record of 17 consecutive matches unbeaten in
the Copa Libertadores: 
Cristal's series:17 - 8 - 9 - 0 - 29-15
 
(-) 17.02.62Lima������� Sporting Cristal - Nacional������������ 0-1Round 1 Group 2
 (1) 20.02.62Lima �������Sporting Cristal - Racing Club��������� 2-1"������ "
 (2) 24.01.68CochabambaJorge Wilstermann - Sporting Cristal��� 0-1Round 1 Group 2
 (3) 28.01.68La Paz����� Always Ready - Sporting Cristal�������� 1-4"������ "
 (4) 15.02.68Lima���� ���Universitario - Sporting Cristal������� 1-1"������ "
 (5) 19.02.68Lima������� Sporting Cristal - Jorge Wilstermann��� 2-0"������ "
 (6) 24.02.68Lima������� Sporting Cristal - Always Ready�������� 1-1"������ "
 (7) 02.03.68Lima������� Sporting Cristal - Universitario������� 2-2"������ "
 (8) 17.03.68Guayaquil�� Emelec - Sporting Cristal�������������� 0-2Round 2 Group 2
 (9) 20.03.68Caracas���� Deportivo Portugu�s - Sporting Cristal1-1"������ "
(10) 25.03.68Lima������� Sporting Cristal - Pe�arol������������� 0-0"������ "
(11) 28.03.68Lima������� Sporting Cristal - Deportivo Portugu�s2-0"������ "
(12) 01.04.68Lima������� Sporting Cristal - Emelec�������������� 1-1"������ "
(13) 10.04.68MontevideoPe�arol - Sporting Cristal������������� 1-1"������ "
(14) 26.02.69Lima������� Sporting Cristal - Juan Aurich��������� 3-3Round 1 Group 2
(15) 01.03.69Lima������� Sporting Cristal - Santiago Wanderers�� 2-1"������ "
(16) 03.03.69Lima������� Sporting Cristal - Universidad Cat�lica 2-0"������ "
(17) 06.03.69Lima������� Juan Aurich - Sporting Cristal��������� 2-2"������ "
(--) 11.03.69Santiago��� Universidad Cat�lica - Sporting Cristal 3-2"������ "
 
Although unbeaten during the 1968 edition (5 wins and 7 draws in 12 matches),
Cristal were eliminated as runners-up of their second round group.
 
Two other teams managed 14 consecutive matches unbeaten in the Copa Libertadores:
Am�rica (Col) and Newell's Old Boys (Arg). Both teams have a similar record, 
although Newell's is better by goal difference.
 
Am�rica's series:14 - 7 - 7 - 0 - 18-6
 
(-) 16.03.80Quito�������� Universidad Cat�lica - Am�rica���� 4-2�� Round 1 Group 4
 (1) 19.03.80Bogot�������� Independiente Santa F� - Am�rica�� 1-1�� "������ "
 (2) 26.03.80Guayaquil���� Emelec - Am�rica������������������ 1-2�� "������ "
 (3) 30.03.80Cali��������� Am�rica - Universidad Cat�lica���� 1-0�� "������ "
 (4) 02.04.80Cali��������� Am�rica - Emelec������������������ 4-1�� "
 (5) 16.06.80Buenos AiresV�lez Sarsfield - Am�rica��������� 0-0�� Semifinal Group A
 (6) 02.07.80Cali��������� Am�rica - Internacional RS�������� 0-0�� "�������� "
 (7) 10.07.80Porto AlegreInternacional RS - Am�rica�������� 0-0�� "�������� "
 (8) 18.07.80Cali��������� Am�rica - V�lez Sarsfield��������� 0-0�� "�������� "
 (9) 16.03.83Cali��������� Am�rica - Deportes Tolima��������� 1-1�� Round 1 Group 3
(10) 27.03.83Lima��������� Alianza Lima - Am�rica������������ 1-2�� "������ "
(11) 30.03.83Lima��������� Universitario - Am�rica����������� 1-1�� "������ "
(12) 13.04.83Ibagu�������� Deportes Tolima - Am�rica��������� 0-2�� "������ "
(13) 24.04.83Cali��������� Am�rica - Universitario����������� 2-0�� "������ "
(14) 27.04.83Cali��������� Am�rica - Alianza Lima������������ 2-0�� "������ "
(--) 06.07.83Porto AlegreGr�mio - Am�rica������������������ 2-1�� Semifinal Group A
 
Newell's Old Boys' series:�� 14 - 7 - 7 - 0 - 21-8
 
(-) 26.02.92Rosario������ Newell's - San Lorenzo���������� ��0-6�� Round 1 Group 1 
(1) 03.03.92Rosario������ Newell's - Coquimbo Unido��������� 3-0�� "������ "
 (2) 06.03.92Rosario������ Newell's - Colo Colo�������������� 3-1�� "������ "
 (3) 09.03.92Santiago����� Universidad Cat�lica - Newell's��� 1-1�� "������ "
 (4) 25.03.92Buenos AiresSan Lorenzo - Newell's������������ 0-1�� "������ "
 (5) 31.03.92Coquimbo����� Coquimbo Unido - Newell's��������� 1-2�� "������ "
 (6) 03.04.92Santiago����� Colo Colo - Newell's�������������� 1-1�� "������ "
 (7) 10.04.92Rosario������ Newell's - Universidad Cat�lica��� 0-0�� "������ "
 (8) 29.04.92Montevideo��� Defensor Sporting - Newell's������ 1-1�� Second Round
 (9) 06.05.92Rosario������ Newell's - Defensor Sporting������ 1-0�� "����� "
(10) 13.05.92Rosario������ Newell's - San Lorenzo������������ 4-0�� Quarterfinal
(11) 20.05.92Buenos AiresSan Lorenzo - Newell's������������ 1-1�� "
(12) 27.05.92Rosario������ Newell's - Am�rica���������������� 1-1�� Semifinal
(13) 03.06.92Cali����� [1] Am�rica - Newell's���������������� 1-1�� "
(14) 10.06.92Rosario������ Newell's - S�o Paulo F.C.��������� 1-0�� Final
(--) 17.06.92S�o Paulo [2] S�o Paulo F.C. - Newell's��������� 1-0�� "
 
[1] Newell's won 11-10 on penalty kicks.
[2] Newell's lost 2-3 on penalty kicks.

Copa Libertadores Stadia

From 1960 to 2002, 115 stadia have staged Copa Libertadores matches.
The top-10 list is:
 
1Centenario (Montevideo, Uru)������������������������������ 337 matches - 70000 spectators
 2Los Defensores del Chaco (Asunci�n, Par)������������������ 241 matches - 48000 spectators
 3Nacional (Lima, Per)�������������������������������������� 230 matches - 46000 spectators
 4Nacional (Santiago, Chi)�������� ��������������������������197 matches - 77000 spectators
 5Pascual Guerrero (Cali, Col)������������������������������ 134 matches - 45000 spectators
 6Hernando Siles Suazo (La Paz, Bol)������������������������ 131 matches - 47000 spectators
 7Ol�mpico Atahualpa (Quito, Ecu)��������������������������� 117 matches - 45000 spectators
 8Antonio Liberti "Monumental River Plate" (B.Aires, Arg)��� 114 matches - 77000 spectators����������������������������� 
9Modelo (Guayaquil, Ecu)��������������������� ���������������92 matches - 48000 spectators���� 
10Nemesio Camacho "El Camp�n" (Bogot�, Col)������������������ 73 matches - 50000 spectators
 

Miscellaneous

Finals won most easily

Copa Libertadores finals have always been played in home and away matches 
(furthermore from 1960 to 1987 a third match could be played).But on only 
5 occasions both matches were won by the same team:
 
1963Santos���������� [3-2 and 2-1 against Boca Juniors]
1969Estudiantes����� [1-0 and 2-0 against Nacional]
1986River Plate����� [2-1 and 1-0 against Am�rica]
1998Vasco da Gama��� [2-0 and 2-1 against Barcelona]
2003Boca Juniors���� [2-0 and 3-1 against Santos]

Winning the Libertadores without a previous title

From 1973 to 1997 it was possible that the champions of Uruguay did not qualify
for the Copa Libertadores.At the end of the season a mini-tournament, called
Liguilla, was played, usually between the top 6 teams from the league.The
winners of the Liguilla qualified for the Copa Libertadores; and if the
champions were not either winners or runners-up of the Liguilla, they played
off against the Liguilla runners-up for the second place in the Libertadores.
 
In 1987 Defensor was the champion; but Wanderers won the "Liguilla" and
Nacional (which had been regular season runner-up) finished second.
Nacional then defeated Defensor and also played the Copa Libertadores 1988,
without winning either League or Liguilla.
 
In the Copa Libertadores 1988, the first two teams from each group qualified
for the second round, and Nacional qualified as runners-up behind Am�rica
de Cali (Colombia) - so, without winning their group.In the group
stage, Nacional lost 1-6 against Millonarios of Bogot� - the worst-ever
defeat suffered by the eventual winners.In the second round, Nacional
eliminated Universidad Cat�lica of Santiago de Chile, who had been
undefeated in the group stage, after two draws - Universidad Cat�lica 
were eliminated while still undefeated.Nacional progressed and eventually
won the Copa Libertadores 1988.
 
So Nacional won the Copa Libertadores without being Uruguayan champion, nor 
"Liguilla" champion, nor winning its first round group.
 
Furthermore, following their triumph they won a series of other international
honours: the Toyota Cup, against PSV, on penalties and after equalizing the
match in the last minute of extra time; the Recopa, against Racing Club; and
the Copa Interamericana (against Olimpia of Honduras).

Lower Division Teams

Two teams, both from Brazil, have participated in Copa Libertadores while not 
belonging to their domestic league First Division.
 
The first time it happened was in 1992; the previous year Crici�ma won the 
Copa Brasil, a tournament open to teams from lower divisions, thereby qualifiying 
for the Copa Libertadores. Crici�ma played in 1992 in the Brazilian Second Division 
and was promoted to First Division in that season. In Copa Libertadores they made 
a good campaign winning their First Round group which included fellow Brazilians 
S�o Paulo F.C., and Bol�var and San Jos� from Bolivia. In the Second Round Crici�ma
eliminated Sporting Cristal from Peru. Their fairytale ended in the Quarterfinals 
when S�o Paulo F.C. proved to be too strong for them (eventually S�o Paulo F.C. 
won Copa Libertadores that year and the next). Until now Crici�ma has not qualified 
again for Copa Libertadores, but they proved that even a "minor" team can play the 
"major" ones successfully.
 
Eight years after, in 2000, Juventude also played in Copa Libertadores as 
previous year Copa Brazil winners. Juventude played in 1999 in the Brazilian First 
Division but were relegated at the end of the season. By the time Copa Libertadores 
2000 was played the Brazilian League had not started yet but Juventude were due to 
play in 2000 in the Brazilian Second Division. However Juventude's campaign in Copa 
Libertadores was not good as Crici�ma�s, as they were eliminated in First Round
after finishing third in their group behind qualifiers Palmeiras (Brazil) and El
Nacional (Ecuador), and just ahead of The Strongest (Bolivia).
 
In 2000, a Brazilian team qualified for the Copa Libertadores 2001 by virtue
of reaching the final of an unofficial championship (the Copa Jo�o Havelange)
as a second division team. However, as they were promoted as reward for their
campaign, S�o Caetano played in the Copa Libertadores 2001 as a first division side, 
and eventually reached the second round of that tournament. One year later in 2002, 
they made it better by reaching the Copa Libertadores final.

River Plate: finals in years ending in 6

River Plate is one of the greatest teams from Argentina; they have won more
Argentine Leagues than any other team and they are the Argentine team with most 
participations in Copa Libertadores.But for many year success eluded them.
 
In 1966 they played their first Final.Against Pe�arol from Uruguay 
they lost the first leg by 0-2 but then won the second leg 3-2.At that time goal 
difference did not count, so a playoff was necessary.In Santiago de Chile, River
Plate were leading 2-0 at half time, but in the second half Pe�arol equalized, 
and then won 4-2 after extra time.
 
In 1976 River was back in the Final and the story repeated itself, this time 
against Cruzeiro from Brazil.River lost the first leg 1-4 and won the second leg 
by 2-1.As 10 years before a playoff was necessary and again it was in Santiago de 
Chile.This time Cruzeiro was leading 2-0 before River equalized, but in the 88th
minute Cruzeiro scored their third, winning the Copa Libertadores.
 
Ten years later, in 1986, River qualified for their third Final.This time 
their rivals were Am�rica from Colombia, who had lost the previous year's
Final against another Argentinian team and were seeking revenge.Unfortunately for 
them, this was the time when River ended their curse.River won the first leg at
Am�rica's ground by 2-1 and then in their Estadio Monumental won again by 
1-0, finally becoming Libertadores champions.
 
From 1987 until 1995 River participated 5 times and despite having a great team 
they never made it to the Final.But in 1996 they qualified for their fourth 
Final.And as 10 years before Am�rica were their rivals.And again River 
won: having lost the first leg in Cali 0-1, River Plate won 2-0 in Buenos Aires.
 
So a Final every 10 years and in those years ending on number 6.It would seem
a safe bet to place River Plate in the Copa Libertadores Final of 2006.

When champions don't compete

In 1985 Argentina modified their football season calendar: since that year, the
season begins in the second half of a "calendar year" and ends in the first half
of the next "calendar year".At that time the Copa Libertadores was played in 
the second half of the year so there was no problem for Argentina.But in 1989 
the CONMEBOL decided that Copa Libertadores will start in the first half of the year.
That was a problem for Argentina.
 
Therefore, A.F.A. (Argentina Football Association) ruled that the two teams that
occupied first and second place at the halfway point of the 1988/89 season will be 
Argentina's representatives in the 1989 Copa Libertadores.And so Racing Club 
and Boca Juniors participated in the 1989 Copa Libertadores, both being
eliminated in the Second Round.Eventually, Boca Juniors finished the domestic season 
in 2nd place (but did not qualify for 1990 Copa Libertadores after losing against
River Plate in the "Liguilla") and Racing Club faded in the second half of the season 
finishing 9th. 

The most unlucky team

Without any doubt Am�rica from the city of Cali, Colombia is the most
unlucky team to have participated in the Copa Libertadores.They lost all 4 Finals
which they reached, 3 of them consecutively (1985, 1986, 1987, 1996).
 
In 1985 they lost on a penalty shootout against Argentinos Juniors.The first two
legs were won 1-0 by the hosts, and the third match on neutral ground ended 1-1 after 
extra-time.In the shootout, goalkeeper Vidall� stopped De Avila's kick, which
was Am�rica's fifth and the ninth of the series.Then Videla scored for Argentinos,
and Am�rica lost 4-5.
 
One year later, Am�rica were beaten categorically by River Plate.River won 
both legs of the Final (2-1, 1-0), and Am�rica became the second team to lost 
two consecutive Finals.
 
The next year proved to be the most unlucky.For the last time, the Finals were played
without counting goal difference; so a third match was to be played if the two teams 
were tied on points after the two legs.Against Pe�arol, Am�rica won 2-0 at 
home and then in Montevideo they scored first in the 19th minute.It seemed that it 
was over.But Pe�arol tied the match in the 58th minute, and then 4 minutes from 
time scored a second goal, winning the match 2-1.So a third match had to be played
in Santiago de Chile.Because of the rules Am�rica had the advantage of playing 
for the draw (they were ahead on goal difference 3-2).The match was tied in extra 
time, Am�rica substitutes were already calling for the game to end, when Aguirre 
scored for Pe�arol in the 119th minute.Believe it or not, Am�rica had lost
their third consecutive Final, in what was possibly the most dramatic Final of the 
entire history of the Copa Libertadores.The irony was that with the rules for 1988 
(and ever since), after the second leg Am�rica would have won the tournament.
 
Finally, in 1996 all was set for a revenge against River Plate.This time Am�rica 
won 1-0 in Cali.But a week later in Buenos Aires Hern�n Crespo scored twice, and
Am�rica lost their fourth final. 

With other rules they wouldn't have been won

Since 1960 and until 1987, Finals were played without counting goal difference; 
only points were taken in account.If after the two matches both teams were tied 
on points a third match on neutral ground had to be played.If the third match was
tied, then and only then goal difference was considered; if there was no goal difference
a penalty shootout took place.In 1988 when the format of the Copa Libertadores was
changed, the rules changed: the third match was abolished and goal difference was
considered; and if both teams tied after the two legs a shootout had to take place; 
no extra-time, no away goals rule. These are the rules until now.
 
So, if the actual rules (and an away goals rule) had been in effect since the Copa
Libertadores began, those teams wouldn't have been champions:
 
1962Santos����������� [against Pe�arol 2-1(away), 2-3(home)]
1965Independiente���� [against Pe�arol 1-0(home), 1-3(away)]
1968Estudiantes������ [against Palmeiras 2-1(home), 1-3(away)]
1973Independiente���� [against Colo Colo 1-1(home), 0-0(away)]
1981Flamengo��������� [against Cobreloa 2-1(home), 0-1(away)]
1987Pe�arol���������� [against Am�rica 0-2(away), 2-1(home)]
 
If an away goals rule had existed since 1988, the following teams wouldn't have 
been champions:
 
1999Palmeiras�������� [against Deportivo Cali 0-1 (away), 2-1 (home)]
2000Boca Juniors����� [against Palmeiras 2-2 (home), 0-0 (away)]
2004 Once Caldas [against Boca Juniors 1-1 (home), 0-0 (away)]
 
It is worth to note that with an "away goals" rule, in 2004 Once Caldas wouldn�t have
made it to the Final: in the Second Round against Barcelona they drew away 0-0 and 1-1 at home,
eventually qualifying through a penalty shootout.

Two players with different success

Argentinian back Francisco S� (b. 25.10.46) is the most succesful individual
player. S� won the Copa Libertadores 6 times: 4 times with Independiente (1972, 1973, 
1974, and 1975) and 2 times with Boca Juniors (1977 and 1978).
 
On the other hand, Colombian forward Anthony De Avila (b. 21.12.63) lost 5 Copa 
Libertadores finals: 4 times with Am�rica (1985, 1986, 1987, 1996) and 1 time with
Barcelona (1998). To make things worse, in 1985 he missed the penalty kick during the 
Final shootout that denied Am�rica the triumph.
 

The most succesful coach

The Argentinian coach Carlos Bianchi is the most succesful one in Copa Libertadores history. Bianchi
coached the winners 4 times: V�lez Sarsfield in 1994 and Boca Juniors in 2000, 2001 and 2003.
It is interesting to note that in 3 of his championships he won them at the same stadium: Morumbi
(Sao Paulo, Brazil). In all those opportunities (1994, 2000 and 2003) the away final was played at that stadium. 
He lost his fifth final in 2004.
 

About this document

Prepared and maintained by Jos� Luis Pierrend for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 
 
Author: Jos� Luis Pierrend ([email protected])
Last updated:
11 Sep 2004
(C) Copyright Jos� Luis Pierrend and RSSSF 1999/2004
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.