Next Saturday, November 30, the final of the Copa Libertadores between Atlético Mineiro y Botafogo to give continuity to Brazilian supremacy in the competition. In that sense, this scenario began in 2019 with the first single-match definition on a neutral court. On that occasion River Plate fell in an unusual way in Peru ante Flemish 2-1, a defeat that would represent the worst of Marcelo Gallardo as coach at the club.
Likewise, the Millionaire y Boca Juniors have something in common within the international power of Brazilian institutions. Both were the only victims of the hegemony that football in that country has imposed for the last 5 years. Ironically, this year's edition will be played in the stadium Monumental of Núñez; while, the final that River lost was in its Peruvian namesake. Meanwhile, in 2023 it was the turn of the Xeneize with a 2-1 defeat against Fluminense.
a hard memory
Recently, Argentine football was present in the final stages of the Copa Libertadores but without a consecration. In 2018 the last local champion was witnessed in the international competition when River defeated Boca in Madrid by 3-1. The following year the regulations were changed and the definition became a neutral stadium with a single encounter. The red and white team reached that stage and ultimately lost the historic chance to be two-time champion.
On November 23, 2019, the 60th edition of the most prestigious tournament on the continent was held with Lima like the big stage. The duel between the Millionaire and the Mengão It represented the 15th final between an Argentine team and a Brazilian team. The last precedent had been in 2017, although that circumstance would be repeated 4 years later. With 16 clashes to date, local clubs they imposed on 9 occasions against 7 of his Brazilian peers.
The Colombian Rafael Santos Borré put the Argentine team ahead at 15' of the first period and allowed River to control the game during much of the game. With high pressure after the goal, the Millonario managed to inhibit his rival and his greatest figure, Gabriel Barbosa. However, two individual errors They destroyed the cupbearer's dream of River in just 3 minutes after an intelligent game put forward by his coach.
At 88' the tie came Gabigol thanks to a loss of Lucas Pratto in the middle; while, at 91' he scored his double after receiving a bad clearance from Javier Pinola. The final result meant a strong emotional blow to what for many was River's best squad with the Doll in charge. Since then, Núñez's team only reached the semifinals on two occasionsthose of 2020 and 2024, eliminated by Palm trees and Mineiro respectively.
Conspicuous by its absence
In Gallardo's glorious moments as River coach it was perceived that his team was the best in the country but everything changed five years ago. The defeat on Inca soil lowered expectations of their local supremacy and the levels became a little more balanced. However, at the international level the situation worsened with only two other Argentine teams who reached the final stages of the Libertadores.
The one with the greatest weight was Boca, which remained in the semifinals of 2019 and 2020, eliminated in the first by River and in the second by Santos. Meanwhile, last year they were runners-up after losing against Flu in it Maracana 2-1 in extra time. German Cano put the Rio team ahead at 36' of the first half and Luis Advíncula He equalized the procedure at 72'. Meanwhile, John Kennedy scored the final 2-1 at 99' for achieve the first title of the club.
For its part, Velez Sarsfield It is the second Argentine team to appear in the equation after 2019, reaching the semifinals of 2022. In that edition it lost to Flamengo and could not close the year in a big way. The current situation of the painting Liniers is close to specify some title being the leader of the Professional League and be in the semifinals of Argentine Cup. Looking ahead to 2025, the only club in the country classified for the Libertadores is Students of The Silver.
While waiting for the season to close, the Pinch He fastened his ticket when he got the League Cup of the first semester. He Fort es the best positioned to get your ticket in the near future. For their part, there are more than 10 teams in the middle of the fight for classification to the cups. through the annual table and only Boca and Central Cordoba They run with the possibility of the national cup. On the side of BrazilFlamengo, Palmeiras, Botafogo and have already secured their place Fortaleza.
One more than another
From 2019 onwards, and without leaving the South American Cup On the other hand, Brazilian superiority has been witnessed with greater weight in the maximum continental tournament. that year Guild It reached the semifinals and the next the story was different with Palmeiras and Santos as the finalists; while, River and Boca stayed in the previous instance. In 2021 the figure increased with the Verdão and Flamengo in the definition; while Mineiro was one of the semifinalists.
For 2022 he repeated the Mengão in the last game when facing Athletico Paranaensewho defeated Palmeiras to reach that final round. Finally, Fluminense surpassed International in the semifinals before beating Boca in the final in 2023 and himself Xeneize left on the road to Palmeiras. The current season will face Mineiro and Botafogo with the curiosity that in the previous series there were no Brazilian compatriots for the 2nd time in the last 5 years.
As for the general record, Brazil holds 23 Libertadores titles distributed among 11 different clubs. São PauloPalmeiras, Santos, Gremio and Flamengo lead the list with 3. Meanwhile, Cruise and Internacional harvest 2 and Fluminense together Vasco da GamaCorinthians and Mineiro just one. It is so that the Enter will look for his second star and Botafogo join the select roster. For its part, Argentina accumulates 25 championships divided into 8 institutions.
In South America the situation It is more varied but, coincidentally, in 2019 an Argentine team with Colón as a victim of Valley Independent of Ecuador. That year the finalists were Corinthians and Mineiro and in 2020 there was no Brazilian presence in the final stages. Defense and Justice y Lanus They defined the title and Vélez stayed in the previous round. Only in 2021 do teams from Brazil return with Paranaense and Bragantino as finalists.
For 2022 The Ecuadorian team returned to the definition and surpassed São Paulo; while, Atlético Goianense he stayed in the semifinals. The following year Fortaleza was runner-up in Quito League and the Hawk along with Corinthians they were their rivals in the previous instance. This 2024 will face Racing alongside Cruzeiro in the final after having eliminated Corinthians and Lanús, respectively.
It is worth mentioning that in these 5 years greater complexity is perceived in the Libertadores since there were only two teams outside of Argentina and Brazil in the final stages since 2019. The first was Barcelona of Ecuador in 2021 and the remaining Penarol of Uruguay In this season, both culminated in the semifinals. Meanwhile, in South America there were not only Ecuadorian champions but there were also teams of Chile, ParaguayPeru and Uruguay in the previous phase.
