The Battle for South American Supremacy: Copa Libertadores Group Phase Preview

Fluminense beat Boca Juniors to win the Copa Libertadores in 2023

Just over 70 years ago an Argentine arrived in Spain, via Colombia, and changed the course of European football. His name was Alfredo di Stefano, and his majestic presence on the field for Real Madrid helped transform the European Cup from a precarious idea into a glamorous reality.

Now that Europe had its annual club champion, Di Stefano’s native South America had to do likewise. The Copa Libertadores was born in 1960 – and the group phase of its latest edition kicks off on Tuesday.

In recent years, Brazilian clubs have been dominating the competition, with massive financial gaps opening up between them and the rest of the continent. The Brazilians are using their revenue to bring back stars from Europe and cherry-pick from neighboring nations, widening the gap further.

With Brazil leading the way in the all-time table with 23 wins, including the past five years, the smart money is on another Brazilian triumph in the upcoming Copa Libertadores. Flamengo, Palmeiras, Atletico Mineiro, Sao Paulo, Gremio, and Botafogo are all strong contenders, making it likely for a final between two Brazilian giants.

However, Argentina’s River Plate remains a strong candidate, with a deep squad and a talented coach in former Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis. River Plate was the last non-Brazilian team to win the title in 2018, and they will be looking to defend against the attacking prowess of their Brazilian rivals.

As the competition kicks off, big names like Barcelona of Guayaquil from Ecuador and Paraguay’s Libertad and Cerro Porteno will face early tests. The Libertadores has become an unequal fight, with home advantage playing a significant role in South American football.

It will be interesting to see which teams will rise to the occasion and challenge the dominance of the Brazilian clubs in this year’s Copa Libertadores.