October 28 – Flamengo will be sky-high favourites to win the Copa Libertadores for the second time in three years, taking on Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Athletico Paranaense in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in Saturday’s final.
The Rio club will take the momentum of having won the Brazilian Cup, following a penalty shoot-out against Corinthians, into South America’s flagship match. They also enjoy a recent familiarity with the biggest stage. Last year, Flamengo lost the final of the Copa Libertadores against Palmeiras, but in 2019 they triumphed against River Plate 2-1.
That was the last time a club outside of Brazil reached the final. The last three finals have been all-Brazilian. In 62 years of existence, the competition has always had a distinct ‘Rioplatense’ flavour with 25 titles belonging to Argentinean clubs. Uruguay’s Penarol also have five crowns to their name.
In recent seasons, however, Brazil has taken over, raising fears that the country’s clubs might become too dominant on the continent in the future. In Guayaquil, Athletico Paranaense return for the first time to the Copa final since 2005 when they suffered a 4-0 defeat by Sao Paulo.
The team of Scolari, who guided Brazil to the world title in 2002, battled back from defeat to draw 2-2 against defending champions Palmeiras. The club from Curitiba won the 2021 Copa Sudamericana, the South American equivalent of the Europa League, defeating Brazilian rivals Red Bull Bragantino.
Much of Athletico Paranaense’s chances will depend on how Scolari plays his cards. Flamengo will once again unleash their feared front four, with all of Gabriel Barbosa, Everton Ribeiro, playmaker Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Pedro, who has replaced the injured Bruno Henrique as a mainstay, ready to dazzle. In the past few seasons, few defences have been able to live with the quartet and it will be no surprise if they storm to another victory on Saturday.
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