Originally billed as the "final of the century," Saturday's Libertadores decider was a war of attrition -- mainly because Brazil's two top clubs are struggling to contend with a ridiculous match schedule.
Flamengo secured the 2025 Copa Libertadores title by defeating Palmeiras 1-0 on Saturday, becoming the first Brazilian team to achieve four titles in South America's top club competition.
Palmeiras completed an epic comeback Thursday evening, smashing LDU 4-0 to overturn a 3-goal aggregate deficit and advance into the 2025 Copa Conmebol Libertadores Final against Brazil rivals Flamengo.
Flamengo battled to a scoreless draw in Argentina against Racing on Wednesday, overcoming a second-half red card to secure their fifth-ever Copa Libertadores final appearance.
While Brazil is in a low ebb, the country's clubs' domination of the Copa Libertadores continues apace -- at the expense of the rest of South America.
Flamengo and Liga de Quito secured a spot in the Copa Libertadores semifinals on Thursday, joining Racing Club and Palmeiras in the tournament's final four.
Liga de Quito defeated Davide Ancelotti's Botafogo 2-0, securing their place in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals.
South America's brightest talents are always on the radar of Europe's biggest clubs. But who's ready to make the leap across the Atlantic?
Argentine club Boca Juniors fired coach Fernando Gago on Tuesday after losing to crosstown rival River Plate over the weekend.
Palmeiras' Estêvão had an 18th birthday to remember, netting the club's second goal in a 3-2 Copa Libertadores win over Bolivar before dropping to the turf, vomiting and leaving the field on a stretcher as the high altitude of La Paz took its toll.
Segundo Castillo has been adding some serious drip to the touchline during Barcelona de Guayaquil's games by sporting an array of colored tuxedos.
Two fans died on Thursday before the start of a Copa Libertadores match between Colo Colo and Fortaleza near Santiago's estadio Monumental.
CONMEBOL announced on Thursday that Ronaldo Nazario will lead a task force to combat racism and violence in South American soccer.
Alejandro Domínguez, the president of South American soccer body CONMEBOL, apologized Tuesday for his remarks the previous day comparing Brazilian clubs to a chimpanzee from Tarzan films.
Palmeiras president Leila Mejdalani Pereira said CONMEBOL's punishment of Cerro Porteno for racial abuse against Palmeiras Under-20 player Luighi was too lenient, criticizing the South American governing body's treatment of Brazilian clubs.
The Brazilian football federation (CBF) said they will file a complaint with South America's governing body CONMEBOL after Palmeiras under-20 player Luighi faced racial abuse while playing against Cerro Porteno U20s in Paraguay on Thursday.
U.S. businessman John Textor has transformed Botafogo from Brazilian second division also-rans into Copa Libertadores champions.
Botafogo beat Atlético Mineiro 3-1 to win their first Copa Libertadores title despite being reduced to 10 men after Gregore was sent off just 30 seconds into the contest.
| Group A | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estudiantes de La Plata | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Flamengo | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| Independiente Medellín | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cusco FC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
| Group B | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Nacional | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Coquimbo Unido | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Deportes Tolima | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
| Universitario | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
| Group C | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Independiente Rivadavia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 6 |
| Deportivo La Guaira | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Fluminense | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| Bolívar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| Group D | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Boca Juniors | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
| Universidad Católica | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Cruzeiro | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Barcelona SC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 |
| Group E | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Corinthians | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
| Peñarol | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Independiente Santa Fe | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
| Platense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
| Group F | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Palmeiras | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Sporting Cristal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Cerro Porteño | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Atlético Junior | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| Group G | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Liga de Quito | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 6 |
| Mirassol | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| Lanús | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Always Ready | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Group H | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Independiente del Valle | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Rosario Central | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Universidad Central | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Libertad | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
