Almost six decades after lifting the first of their four Copa Libertadores trophies, Estudiantes will chase a fifth on the same stage and against the same opponent they met in the 1968 decider: Palmeiras, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. The two sides will contest the final on 28 November.
A familiar final
In that first continental final, Estudiantes beat Palmeiras 2-1 at home in the first leg, but lost 3-1 in the return in São Paulo. The regulations of the time did not use goal difference as a tiebreaker, so a play-off was required. On 18 May 1968, the finalists met again at the Centenario, and Estudiantes secured the title with a 2-0 win.
The hero of that campaign was Juan Ramón Verón, who scored in every game of the final. He is the father of the club’s current president, Juan Sebastián Verón, who was part of the side that won the Libertadores in 2009, the club’s most recent continental crown.
Medina highlights the symbolism
Estudiantes reached this year’s final after beating Flamengo on penalties in the semi-final at the Maracanã. Coach Alexander Cacique Medina, who is Uruguayan, said the coincidence meant even more to him personally. He described the Maracanã and the Centenario as two temples of South American football history, and said it felt special to beat one Brazilian club in Rio and now face another Brazilian side in Montevideo.
Source: ge.globo.com
