Nationale rivalen vechten om plaats in de finale van de Libertadores

BY CHRIS DINSDALE

January 12, 2021 – January 13, 2021 – The Copa Libertadores, South America’s premier club competition, reaches the semi-final stage featuring two contests between teams from fierce rivals Brazil and Argentina.

River Plate take on Palmeiras, with the Argentines aiming to overturn a three-goal first leg deficit to have opportunity to hoist a third trophy in five years, while perennial Copa Liberadores favourites Boca Juniors — hunting a seventh title to equal the all-time record held by Independiente — face three-time champions Santos. The pair played out a goalless stalemate in the first leg.

Teams from Argentina and Brazil are traditionally dominant in the tournament, sharing 44 of 60 titles between them since 1960. The other 16 titles have been split between five countries: Uruguay (8), Colombia (3), Paraguay (3), Chile (1), and Ecuador (1).

The final will be hosted at Brazil’s iconic Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, the fourth time the stadium has hosted the showpiece event.