Crunching tackles, demonic fouls, life-or-death brawls, players fainting from a lack of oxygen… welcome to soccer’s answer to the gladiator games. A far stretch? Hyperbole, maybe? Clearly, you have not been paying attention.
The Copa Libertadores is perhaps the most intense soccer tournament on the planet. It is sometimes regarded as the South American version of the Champions League, but in truth, comparisons end there. Yes, Europe’s premier soccer competition showcases the ultimate cream of the crop in talent from around the world. It just so happens that many of the South American icons on show were once part of the “Libertadores.”
For all of the flash brilliance and jaw-dropping skill the Brazilians, Argentinians, Uruguayans, Colombians, and most other South Americans playing in Europe bring, the passion is the glue which holds it together. In Europe, most elite-level games will be played in the plush and high-tech arenas in England, Spain, Italy, and Germany. The temperatures will be mild, or occasionally cold. Things are just… different.
The rare trips to the harsh Russian countryside or to the hostile crowds in Athens are nothing on a high-altitude match in Bolivia. The players earning $400,000 per week would be completely outside of their element competing within the brutal atmospheres of the cauldrons of Santiago and Medellin. This is a tournament where no prisoners are taken, so to speak, so having a little edge goes a long way.
It’s not all guts and guile, however, as no South American soccer tournament has ever lacked style and grace. This is a tournament that has it all, as the fans show. The intensely competitive nature of the Latin American people ensures that there will be nothing less than ultimate warfare on the way to winning that cup. So, think of the Copa Libertadores as the crazy blend of beauty and brawn that only the South Americans can pull off.
The Copa Libertadores is an annual club soccer tournament organized by CONMEBOL (the South American soccer confederation). The tournament began in 1960, and since then, it has grown to be recognized as one of the elite club soccer championships on the planet. The name “Libertadores” translates from Spanish to English as “Liberators,” in honor of the leaders of the various wars of independence fought in Latin America.
The connection between the name of this tournament and warfare is very apt, given the passion and intensity it inspires. While initially conceived as a competition played only by the teams who had won the eligible leagues for entry in South America, the Copa Libertadores would go on to include the runners-up as well as the champions of those leagues, thus expanding the tournament in the process.
While invitations to the competition were initially reserved for South American teams, Mexico would send their champions in 1998, eventually joining as full-time participants in 2000. This would coincide with a further expansion of teams from 20 to 32. Much like the UEFA Champions League, the strongest leagues have at least four of their premier teams participating, with Brazil and Argentina sending six clubs each.
The competition is still thriving, evidenced by the growing number of advertisers and brands looking to take advantage of the huge interest in the Copa Libertadores. There is no doubt that it will continue to go from strength to strength, with die-hard fanbases and crazy rivalries making it a colorful and unique occasion. From a betting perspective, this only makes things even more interesting.
So, you want to bet on the Copa Libertadores. You are ready to put your money where your mouth is and try to make some cold, hard cash watching the team and sport you love. We would strongly recommend choosing nothing but the best sites when placing your bets, which will help you identify the best prices and markets for your betting needs.
With so many sites out there, it can be difficult to choose the right sportsbook. Always ensure that the sites you do business with are safe, secure, and make things as easy as possible to bet on the Copa Libertadores. We’ve put together a list of such sites for you here.
Every tournament, even those that come with a reputation for fire and intensity, needs rules. Without rules, there would be utter chaos. The law of the jungle just wouldn’t cut it, especially when it comes to the Copa Libertadores. As such, it is important to familiarize yourself with what goes – and what certainly doesn’t – in South America’s premier club soccer tournament.
First up, you need to get to grips with the structure of the tournament. Simply put, the Copa Libertadores consists of three stages. The first stage begins in February to determine six teams to make up the 32-team second stage. There are eight groups of four; the top two teams of each group at the end of the second stage qualify for the knockout rounds. Two teams contest the final (played in November or December).
The team to emerge victoriously is crowned as the winner of the Copa Libertadores and claims the bragging rights in the process. The coveted trophy only falls into the hands of the very best, after all, so it’s safe to say those rights are justified. Aside from being crowned as champions, the winning team will earn a place in the FIFA Club World Cup and the Recopa Sudamericana. Pretty sweet, huh?
Teams can qualify for the tournament if they win the Apertura and Clausura tournaments or if they win or finish in the top spots in their respective leagues. For the most part, this is how qualifying for the Copa Libertadores is determined. There are a few of the CONMEBOL members who do things differently. For example, Brazil follows a similar process as the European leagues to determine qualification.
As previously mentioned, the tournament proper is played in a three-stage format. The qualifying stage is classed as the first round. Each team plays the other three teams in a group twice. Points are awarded for a win and a draw. Once all games have been played, the team with the most points, typically, wins the group.
Points are awarded as follows:
In the case of a tie, goal difference applies. In the unlikely event that goal difference is tied, there are other ways to separate the winner. We’ll look at these in the next section, so don’t worry for now. The top two teams emerge to the third and final knockout stages, which consist of the second round, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final. Each stage is played over two legs, other than the final.
The away goals rule also applies to all games other than the final. What this means is that, if a team scores a goal while playing at the other team’s stadium, that goal counts for two in the event of a tie. It’s a pretty easy way to break a tie, but it’s painful if your team is knocked out under this rule. It also encourages attacking soccer, given that it is often natural to play defensively away from home.
Every now and again, teams cannot be separated by points. The Copa Libertadores is an incredibly competitive tournament, so it is not beyond reality for two teams to finish on the same points every now and again. If this is the case, then the winner of a group is decided according to the following (in order):
This is where things get very, very interesting. The knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores are about as ruthless as competitive soccer can get. There is very little room for error, making every single goal truly count. The ecstasy, pain, heart-stopping drama, and historic comebacks are all part and parcel of following your team through each of the steps towards glory.
The second round is the first of the knockout stages, also known as the last sixteen. From here, the winners of the second round proceed to the quarterfinals. Each winner of the four quarter-finals makes their way to the semi-finals before the remaining two teams standing duke it out for a shot at South America’s most prized club trophy. The final of the Copa Libertadores is a spectacle every sports fan should witness at least once.
As much as the fans can often be the “12th player” in this tournament, there would be no glory without the players. Latin America’s elite stars are the ones with the hands (or should we say feet?) in the twists and turns soccer fans know and love. When we think of the great players of this era – and how they match up to the legends of yesteryear – we can’t help but compare.
The question is, who were the five greatest players ever to grace the Copa Libertadores?
That is a fantastic question, if we should say so ourselves. With such a rich tapestry of genius in this competition, anyone tasked with whittling it down to five players alone is faced with an unenviable job. After all, there have been many great players to appear in this competition who could arguably make it into any list despite never having much of an impact on the tournament. That would be unfair.
In this list, we will look at talent and influence, ignoring players who attained legendary status outside of South America (despite featuring in the cup). This is only fair, right? In keeping with the spirit of the Copa Libertadores, the cream should rise to the top. So, in our opinion, here are the five most influential players to have ever graced this special tournament.
Gilmar is still a legend in Brazil, where he is regarded as perhaps the greatest goalkeeper to ever represent the country. Between the years of 1951-61, the goalkeeper represented Corinthians before moving to Pele’s Santos. That transfer worked exceptionally well for Gilmar, as he would go on to enjoy considerable success at club level, including two Copa Libertadores and five league championships.
As part of the most dominant Brazilian team of all time, Gilmar was the trusted man between the posts for 16 years. His international career was as glittering as his club career, culminating in two consecutive FIFA World Cup titles. Throughout his international career, Gilmar would only lose 16 times, conceding just 95 goals in the process.
Gilmar is part of a small group of players that won the Copa Libertadores on more than one occasion. He was voted as Brazil’s greatest goalkeeper of the 20th century and would more than likely be most soccer historians’ choice for the goalie’s spot in any all-time Copa Libertadores XI. We concur and have handed the great Gilmar the 5th spot on this illustrious list.
Moving on to the four spot in this list, we have another very special Brazilian cracking the top 5.
Zico was one of those magical players that could pretty much do anything. While his impact on the Copa Libertadores did not yield as much success as other players, his commitment and dedication to Flamengo earn him a spot on this list. Well, in addition to the talents, skills, and influence which saw him become one of the world greatest-ever players. Yes, that certainly helps, too…
To put it into perspective, Brazilian legend Pele has often stated that Zico is the only player to come close to him in terms of talent. Known as the “White Pele,” Zico was a household name in soccer from Rio de Janeiro to Rome. His all-round game, incredible ability to score from set pieces, and prolific goalscoring record sees the legend make most Brazilians’ lists of the all-time greatest players.
Flamengo was the team Zico loved most, despite moving to Italy’s Udinese for a short period of time. Flamengo won the Copa Libertadores only once while Zico was on the team, which seems cruel for a player of his talents. That being said, there are other great players who never got to lift the trophy once, so at least he got his hands on the gold.
It’s not like he was averse to success, however. Zico did win several leagues and cups throughout his career. However, he is still regarded as the greatest Brazilian never to win a FIFA World Cup.
Following Zico is Zito. Sounds a little funny, right? The names are almost identical enough to cause a little confusion. That is unless you understand just how different these two players were. While Zico was flash and flair personified, Zico was the pit-bull in the middle of the park. He is one of the most underrated players of all time and the epitome of a soccer general.
As the captain of a Santos team that featured perhaps the greatest player of all time, Pele, Zito’s influence cannot be questioned. Another aspect of this gladiator’s personality was commitment: he was considered a “one-team player” who put in an incredible 727 appearances for Santos. A strong leader, Zito was the glue that held his exceptional team together, influencing those around him in the process.
This special player also won two Copa Libertadores with that famous Santos team. His high work ethic and relentlessness were a major part of the Brazilian club’s success. His influence also translated to the Brazilian national team, as he was part of the team that won back-to-back FIFA World Cups in 1958 and 1962, scoring in the final of the latter tournament to guide his team to legendary status.
A criminally underrated player, Zito is one of the most influential men to have ever graced the Copa Libertadores.
There are few lists or rankings in the modern age where Pele would feature in 2nd place. The Brazilian icon is essentially the face of soccer. This incredibly talented player has influenced many of the most gifted athletes in the game and continues to be celebrated even decades after he retired. The greatest player in the history of soccer? It would take a very strong case to prove otherwise.
Over the course of his time on a soccer pitch, Pele scored 1281 goals in 1363 games. He won three FIFA World Cups with Brazil, making his debut at the tender age of just 16. His international record stands at 72 goals in 91 games, which is simply incredible. Put simply, Pele’s place in the pantheon of soccer legends will be eternally reserved, regardless of who or what comes after him.
It was not just on the international stage where Pele wreaked havoc. As part of an exceptional Santos team, the Brazilian can boast a trophy cabinet which would probably take a few weeks to dust and clean. With two Copa Libertadores trophies to his name, Pele also enjoyed success in this fantastic competition. Although he is now a worldwide icon, he will always be a Brazilian first and foremost in this tournament.
With a player such as Pele on your team, anything could happen. His remarkable eye for goal often took the shine away from his incredible playmaking skills. He could simply do it all, and his influence will always be remembered.
There is little doubt that Alberto Spencer is the greatest Ecuadorian soccer player of all time. A pacy, powerful, two-footed player, Spencer was blessed with talent. He is still regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and the pride of Ecuador. The late Spencer (who passed away in 2006) was also one of the most important players to have ever featured in the Copa Libertadores.
You are probably wondering why Spencer is so important. Well, for a start, he is the all-time leading goal scorer in the Copa Libertadores. Known as “Cabeza Mágica” – which translates to English as “Magic Head” – Spencer scored 54 goals in 87 games in the tournament. He also won the Copa Libertadores on three occasions with his team, Uruguay’s Penarol.
Spencer was a gifted athlete who had the ability to turn a game on its head. His speed and incredible eye for goal are legendary. With a player like Spencer on the team, others could be inspired to up their own games. They could also offset any anxiety knowing that there was a superstar spearheading their attack, which is exactly how that incredibly successful Penarol team must have felt back in their glory days.
The most influential player in Copa Libertadores history? We believe that Alberto Spencer is that man.
While Real Madrid, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool are the teams who have dominated Europe’s competition, there are also a number of teams to have done the same in South America. While the Copa Libertadores has arguably been a more intense and competitive tournament than the Champions League, these teams have enjoyed considerable success.
Even winning the tournament once is considered a great achievement, given the quality on show each and every year. The fierce rivalries and battles of yesteryear have led to some amazing memories, but nothing stays in the mind more than a champion. So, who are the most successful teams in the history of the Copa Libertadores? As another gift to you, we will take a look at the top three clubs in the tournament’s history.
First up is Penarol of Uruguay, the world-famous club located just outside Montevideo, the nation’s capital city. Penarol is regarded for their rich form in club competitions, having won their fair share of Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cups. Boasting some of the greatest players in South American history, this team is up there with the very best clubs in the world.
Players such as Alberto Spencer, Fernando Morena, and Oscar Miguez stand out as three of the club’s greatest legends. In truth, there are many more greats to have played in the famous yellow and black club colors of Penarol.
Buenos Aires’ Boca Juniors may be the most famous Argentine club in the world. It is not rare to see young European kids in Dublin, Madrid, Lisbon, or Milan wearing the blue and yellow stripe while playing street soccer. They are the most successful team in Argentina and one of the greatest clubs to have ever featured in the Copa Libertadores. They have some pretty passionate fans, too, making them an institution.
Listing off some of Boca’s greatest players is like looking at a list of the best to have ever played the game. Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta, Francisco Varallo, and many more have brought great joy to this special team over the years.
Independiente had a pretty successful run in the Copa Libertadores in the 1970s (that should be a contender for understatement of the year). The Argentinian team essentially dominated the tournament, winning four titles in four years from 1972-75. The team with the famous red stripe is regarded as one of the most successful clubs in South America, with that spell of dominance contributing majorly to this.
Names such as Raimundo Orsi, Manuel Seoane, and Antonio Sastre stand out from the unbelievable conveyor belt of talent which has come from Avellaneda. The club named “The Red Devils” is perhaps the greatest in the history of the Copa Libertadores.
Betting on the Copa Libertadores is far from difficult. In fact, if you have any experience of betting on soccer games, you should already know how things work. There is, however, the right way to bet and the wrong way.
Betting the right way means understanding the rules of the game, the players and teams involved, and what can affect any match at any given moment. Taking such factors into consideration can be the difference between winning your bets and walking away with nothing. As such, soccer fanatics will always have the upper hand when placing bets on the Copa Libertadores.
Conversely, the wrong way to bet is to just throw money down on the first odds you come across. It is akin to putting a large amount of money down on a match bet in the knockout rounds, only to realize that the result after 90 minutes counts, not after extra time. By doing your homework and following the tips below, you will be in the right position to make some money while embracing this dazzling soccer tournament.
When betting on soccer, you will have a number of options to choose from. Some of these options will be similar to those you can find in football, basketball, or pretty much any other team sport. Some of those bets will be exclusive to soccer. It always pays to remember that these bets will almost always be available in any soccer game, so if you do have experience, you should be okay.
For those without any prior experience of betting on soccer, the bets below are the most popular among gamblers. There are simple bets and some which are slightly more difficult to get used to. Let’s take a look.
The simplest bet is the match bet. It is essentially a “pick-em” bet where you choose the team you want to win. Odds are usually presented to bettors on the strength of the teams involved, with short odds for the stronger team and higher odds for the weaker team. When both are closely matched, there may be little difference in the odds.
Please see an example of a match bet below: Boca Juniors (1.45) vs. Cruzeiro (4.50)
As you can see, Boca Juniors are the perceived favorites. They are priced at 1.45, which means that a $100 bet will win you $145 ($45 profit and the return of your $100 stake). A winning bet on Cruzeiro will win $450 ($350 profit and the return of your $100 stake). If everything in life was as simple as this, it would be smooth sailing all the way.
A parlay bet allows gamblers to make multiple selections on the one bet. The potential for sky-high odds makes this bet extremely popular among many soccer fans. Parlay bets can have fixed odds or can simply all combine for a monster bet. With the latter, also known as an “accumulator,” each winning selection sees the profit and stake roll over to the next bet, which is very attractive to those looking to win big. You can usually select between 2 and 15 teams in a parlay bet. The more selections you opt for, the higher the return should be.
Let’s take a look at an example of a three-team parlay bet: A $100 three-fold parlay bet on Boca Juniors (1.95) to beat Cruzeiro (2.85), Palmeiras (1.52) to beat Gremio (2.70), and River Plate (1.85) to beat Penarol (4.60) will return $1011.47 ($911.47 profit and $100 stake). As you can see, the odds can be very appealing.
Soccer games can, in theory, be easier to predict given that there is only one way to score. However, in practice, you may find it a lot more difficult. This hasn’t stopped gamblers from making this one of the most popular bets in soccer. Simply pick the score and see how psychic you really are.
For example: A $100 bet on Boca Juniors to beat Gremio 2-1 (4.25) will return $425 ($325 profit and your $100 stake). The odds can be incredible, especially if you can predict an exceptionally high-scoring game.
If you expect that there will be a lot of goals in this game, you might want to put your money where your mouth is. Especially if the bookmaker’s odds are pretty high for this type of result. Alternatively, you might believe that the absence of Gremio’s star striker makes the chances of a high-scoring game less likely. You have the option to go high or low here, so use your soccer knowledge and get your bets on. Always remember that bookmakers have the habit of adding an extra half point to odds. You can’t score a half goal in soccer, so there is a slight edge here in the bookmaker’s favor.
For example: Gremio vs. River Plate: Over 2.5 goals (1.50) or Under 2.5 goals (1.80)
The team that wins the first half doesn’t always win the second. If you believe that Team A has a propensity to play better in the first half, eventually breaking down in the second, you could potentially make some money here. Alternatively, you could choose a draw at halftime and predict them to just snatch it at the end. Then again, it could be a snooze fest where the result is a draw at half time and full time.
Speaking of snooze fests, this is perhaps the most boring of the Copa Libertadores bets out there. In basic terms, you can choose a team to win. If the game ends in a draw, you will receive your stake back. How is this in keeping with the spirit of this great tournament? Okay, it may be a safe option, but it is unlikely to really get a fan fired up. However, as the old saying goes, to each their own.
If you have no interest in betting on teams, you might be tempted to engage in a couple of goalscorer bets. The good news is that there are many to choose from, which should get the blood flowing. The most popular goalscorer bets in the Copa Libertadores are:
First Goalscorer: Who will score the first goal? Will it be the striker with short odds, or maybe a defender who has never scored in their career? If you back the latter, you could seriously fatten up that old wallet of yours.
Final Goalscorer: Choosing the last man on the pitch to score can also pay pretty well if you take a punt. As usual, strikers will have the shorter odds while defenders will come with tasty prices.
Anytime Goalscorer: Choosing a player to score at any point in the game can be a lot easier than predicting the first and final goals. As such, the chances drive odds down considerably.
Scorecast: If you fancy your chances of choosing the first goalscorer and result after 90 minutes, the scorecast is probably your best bet. It can pay very, very handsomely when it comes to certain combinations.
If this is your first time betting on the Copa Libertadores, congratulations. You’ve come to the right place to get the best tips and strategy advice.
When it comes down to it, this tournament is one of the greatest in soccer. Fans from all over the world pay attention every year when the best of South America’s talent converge to take the continent by storm. Naturally, such competitiveness makes choosing the right bets an often confusing exercise. By adopting a strategy, however, this can really help shine some light on other factors that can contribute to victory.
You will find a few helpful tips below that you can use in order to help you get as much success out of betting on the Copa Libertadores as possible.
If you have no idea who you are betting on, then you will be doing yourself and your bank account a disservice. Familiarize yourself with the teams in the competition: who the favorites are, who the outsiders are, and perhaps most importantly, the surprise packages and dark horses in the mix. If there has been a team slowly building towards the tournament, making some pretty good headway, are they worth a shot?
There is a lot of history in this competition to suggest that dark horses can emerge to take the trophy. There have been few periods of dominance, or, in other words, teams winning consecutive championships. Understanding that the team that won last year is not guaranteed to enjoy the same success this year is important. Unlike other annual competitions, this rarely applies in the Copa America.
It can provoke laughs when putting the words “South American” and “underdog” into the same sentence when discussing soccer. The greatest teams and players in the history of the international game came from South America. Think Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay. Think Pele, Maradona, Di Stefano. However, this is not international soccer, and South Americans make up the majority of the teams in this tournament.
As we mentioned above, there have been dark horses who have triumphed in this competition. The battling spirit and anything-can-happen nature of the Copa Libertadores make backing a dark horse with that South American underdog spirit a potentially lucrative plan.
The betting favorites of this tournament are considered the strongest teams in the tournament for a reason. They have the best players, the best managers, more financial clout, and a winning culture. Perhaps these favorites have dominated their respective leagues, blowing away all opposition in the process. If a team is on a roll and has built up serious momentum, this can often be a good sign.
There are no guarantees in any competition that the favorites will triumph, however. If the in-form team from last year is not quite the same or has lost their top talents to European clubs, it is unlikely that they will be as strong. The bookmakers’ odds may not reflect this, meaning that those short odds represent poor value. Then again, maybe this team will justify those odds and blast everyone away.
Remember that the bookmaker’s favorites are usually where the money goes. Consider this, always, when betting on the Copa Libertadores.
In a period of over 32 years, Argentina could not win in Bolivia. The country had won FIFA World Cups, and its teams had also dominated the Copa Libertadores in this time, which baffled many. The problem, some believed, was the suffocating high altitude where games were played. The high altitude is something that became a controversial topic in the Copa Libertadores as a result, leading to international attention.
What does this mean when betting on the Copa Libertadores? It could mean that any games played in Bolivia may not bode well for the betting favorites. There have been many cases of stronger teams being shown a soccer lesson by smaller clubs in areas of high altitude, given that they cannot acclimate to playing in these conditions. Always take this into consideration when games are played in places like Bolivia.
Earlier in this guide, we discussed the five most influential players to have ever played in the Copa Libertadores. Are there highly influential players who could tip the balance for the team you believe is set to take the trophy? Has a star striker found the red-hot form of their lives that they will bring into the tournament? Or have several players gelled in a team, even in defense?
Always take players’ form into consideration. What is a team without players? Who is performing, who is underperforming, and what players are forming – or have formed – star-quality partnerships upfront or in midfield?
This historic tournament has showcased the cream of the crop in soccer for decades. It has provided twists and turns of epic proportions to the legions of fans each and every team takes with them into battle. If soccer is warfare, then the Copa Libertadores is the trenches. No prisoners are taken, and the team with the strongest will and spirit tends to be the one with their hands around the trophy at the end.
That being said, the unique, South American flair is simply in abundance. The “beautiful game” always puts its best makeup on when it comes to this prestigious tournament. This marriage of combat and beauty keeps the Copa Libertadores in its own realm, and one in which every single gladiator taking part is fighting for their own spot in the pantheon of the greats.
