1961 Copa Libertadores
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 2 - June 11 |
| Teams | 9 (from 9 confederations) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Uruguay Peñarol (2nd title) |
| Runners-up | Brazil Palmeiras |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 16 |
| Goals scored | 52 (3.25 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Argentina Osvaldo Panzutto (4 goals) |
← 1960 1962 → | |
The 1961 Copa de Campeones de América was the second season of the competition, South America's prized football tournament. 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 Manyas successfully defended their title by defeating Palmeiras in the final.
Qualified teams
[edit ]| Country | Team | Qualification method | App | Last | Previous Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina 1 berth |
Independiente | 1960 Primera División champion | first | ||
| Bolivia 1 berth |
Jorge Wilstermann | 1960 Copa Simón Bolívar champion | 2nd | 1960 | preliminary round |
| Brazil 1 berth |
Palmeiras | 1960 Taça Brasil champion | first | ||
| Chile 1 berth |
Colo-Colo | 1960 Primera División champion | first | ||
| Colombia 1 berth |
Santa Fe | 1960 Campeonato Profesional champion | first | ||
| Ecuador 1 berth |
Barcelona | 1960 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol champion | first | ||
| Paraguay 1 berth |
Olimpia | 1960 Primera División champion | 2nd | 1960 | runner-up |
| Peru 1 berth |
Universitario | 1960 Primera División champion | first | ||
| Uruguay 1 berth |
Peñarol | 1960 Primera División champion | 2nd | 1960 | champion |
Format
[edit ]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 became a factor. A one-game playoff would be implemented in case the teams were 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, scrapped the idea and decided that the last semifinal slot was to be given by a draw of lots which the Colombians won.
Tournament bracket
[edit ]Preliminary round
[edit ]| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia Santa Fe | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 3 |
| Ecuador Barcelona | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 1 |
First round
[edit ]Group 1
[edit ]| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paraguay Olimpia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 2 |
| Chile Colo-Colo | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 2 |
Toro 88' González 12'
Cabral 37', 79'
Ferreira 48', 54' Attendance: 17,780
Referee: Esteban Marino (Uruguay)
Olimpia drew 2–2 with Colo-Colo on point aggregate. Olimpia progressed to the semifinals due to better goal difference.
Group 2
[edit ]| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay Peñarol | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 2 |
| Peru 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
[edit ]| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil Palmeiras | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 4 |
| Argentina Independiente | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0 |
Group 4
[edit ]| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia Santa Fe | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Bolivia 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
[edit ]Four teams were drawn into two groups of two teams each. In each group, teams played against each other home and away. The top team in each group advanced to the Finals.
Group A
[edit ]| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil Palmeiras | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 3 |
| Colombia Santa Fe | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 1 |
Group B
[edit ]| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay Peñarol | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 4 |
| Paraguay Olimpia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 0 |
Finals
[edit ]| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay Peñarol | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| Brazil Palmeiras | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 1 |
Champion
[edit ]| Copa Libertadores de América 1961 Winner |
|---|
| Uruguay Peñarol Second Title |
Top goalscorers
[edit ]| Pos | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina Osvaldo Panzutto | Colombia Santa Fe | 4 |
| 2 | Argentina Alberto Perazzo | Colombia Santa Fe | 3 |
| Paraguay Benicio Ferreira | Paraguay Olimpia | 3 | |
| Peru Juan Joya | Uruguay Peñarol | 3 | |
| Colombia Jose Francisco Sasía | Uruguay Peñarol | 3 | |
| Ecuador Alberto Spencer | Uruguay Peñarol | 3 |
