It took almost 60 years for the Copa Libertadores to throw up a final between River Plate and Boca Juniors, the great Buenos Aires rivals. The event proved too much for the city, and fan violence forced the decisive to be controversially re-located to Madrid.

Afterwards, South American football blew a collective sigh of relief and consoled itself that there could be no repeat. The traditional format of a home and away, two-legged final was giving way to a one off decider on a neutral ground --...

Leicester City's incredible Premier League triumph in 2015-16 was a freak, an aberration, something that appeared impossible until it happened. However, if Leicester had won the FA Cup instead it would not have inspired anything like the same worldwide reaction. The logic is simple: the shorter the competition, the greater the chance of an upset.

The reverse of this theory helps explain why the Copa Libertadores is now dominated by South America's big two: Brazil and Argentina. The continent's equivalent...

Brazil's most popular club were very happy that the Champions League title went to Liverpool. It could be an omen.

Back in 1981, when Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo won the Copa Libertadores to become the champions of South America, Liverpool were the champions of Europe. The two clubs met in the Intercontinental Cup staged in Japan, and a Zico-inspired Flamengo won 3-0.

It is the finest moment in over a century of club history for the Brazilian side. The year 1981 continues to be the bar for Flamengo,...

CONMEBOL has rejected any chance of another Copa Libertadores final being played out of South America, as happened last year.

- Wright Thompson: The greatest game never played

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez said at a news conference on Monday there were neither plans nor offers to send the South American club championship another continent any time soon.

Last year, River Plate beat archrival Boca Juniors 3-1 in the second leg of the final in Madrid and won its fourth Copa Libertadores title.

CONMEBOL...