1961 Copa Libertadores

1961 Copa de Campeones
1961 Copa de Campeones de América
1961 Copa do Campeones da América
Tournament details
Dates April 2 - June 11
Teams (from 9 confederations)
Final positions
Champions Peñarol (2nd title)
Runners-up Palmeiras
Tournament statistics
Matches played 16
Goals scored 52 (3.25 per match)
Top scorer(s) Osvaldo Panzutto
(4 goals)
1960
1962

The 1961 Copa de Campeones de América was the second staging of the Copa de Campeones, South America's prized football tournament, known today as the Copa Libertadores. Nine teams entered, two more than the previous season, with Venezuela not sending a representative. In order to further enhance the competition, CONMEBOL maintained the criteria of having regional clashes in order to take advantage of the cross-border rivalries

Although Peñarol also won their national league, this became the first and, so far, only time the defending champions did not qualify automatically to the next edition. Nevertheless, the Mayas successfully defended their title by defeating Palmeiras in the final.

Contents

Qualified teams

Country Team Qualification method
 Argentina
1 berth
Independiente 1960 Primera División champion
 Bolivia
1 berth
Jorge Wilstermann 1960 Copa Simón Bolívar champion
 Brazil
1 berth
Palmeiras 1960 Taça Brasil champion
 Chile
1 berth
Colo-Colo 1960 Primera División champion
 Colombia
1 berth
Independiente Santa Fe 1960 DIMAYOR champion
 Ecuador
1 berth
Barcelona 1960 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol champion
Paraguay
1 berth
Olimpia 1960 Primera División champion
 Peru
1 berth
Universitario 1960 Primera División champion
 Uruguay
1 berth
Peñarol 1960 Primera División champion

Format

Each match-up was a two-team group stage. Because of the increase in participants, a preliminary group was implemented in the competition, with the rest following the previous season's format. Wins were awarded two points, 1 point for a draw, and no points for a loss. The team with the most points after a home and away game advanced to the next stage.

If the teams still remained tied, goal difference will become a factor. A one-game playoff would be implemented in case the teams are still tied. A draw of lots was to become the last solution to breaking a tie. Controversially, Independiente Santa Fe and Jorge Wilstermann tied on points which would have required a playoff; CONMEBOL, however, scraped the idea and decided that the last semifinal slot was to be given by a draw of lots which the Colombians won.

Preliminary round

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Independiente Santa Fe 2 1 1 0 5 2 +3 3
Barcelona 2 0 1 1 2 5 −3 1

First Round

Group 1

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Olimpia 2 1 0 1 6 4 +2 2
Colo-Colo 2 1 0 1 4 6 −2 2

Olimpia drew 2–2 with Colo-Colo on point aggregate. Olimpia progressed to the semifinals due to better goal difference.

Group 2

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Peñarol 2 1 0 1 5 2 +3 2
Universitario 2 1 0 1 2 5 −3 2

Peñarol drew 2–2 with Universitario on point aggregate. Peñarol progressed to the semifinals due to better goal difference.

Group 3

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Palmeiras 2 2 0 0 3 0 +3 4
Independiente 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3 0

Group 4

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Independiente Santa Fe 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 2
Jorge Wilstermann 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 2

Independiente Santa Fe drew 2–2 with Jorge Wilstermann on point aggregate and goal difference. No playoff was disputed to determine the winner. Independiente Santa Fe progressed to the semifinals after a draw of lots.

Semifinals

Seven teams were drawn into two groups, one of our and the other of three. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top team in each group advanced to the Finals.

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Palmeiras 2 1 1 0 6 3 +3 3
Independiente Santa Fe 2 0 1 1 3 6 −3 1

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Peñarol 2 2 0 0 5 2 +3 4
Olimpia 2 0 0 2 2 5 −3 0

Finals

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Peñarol 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 3
Palmeiras 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1

Champion

Copa de Campeones
1961 Winner

Peñarol
Second Title

Top goalscorers

Pos Player Team Goals
1 Osvaldo Panzutto Independiente Santa Fe 4
2 Alberto Perazzo Independiente Santa Fe 3
Benicio Ferreira Olimpia 3
Juan Joya Peñarol 3
Jose Francisco Sasía Peñarol 3
Alberto Spencer Peñarol 3

References

External links