The 1963 Copa de Campeones de América was the fourth season of South America's premier club football tournament. Nine teams entered with Bolivia and Venezuela not sending a representative.
This competition was notable for the participation of many world class stars such as José Sanfilippo, Pelé, Garrincha, Antonio Rattín, Alberto Spencer and Jairzinho, among others. The Alvinegro da Vila, usually regarded as the greatest football club team ever, defeated their semifinal and final opponents in stylish fashion which included a 4–0 victory over Botafogo in the fabled Estádio do Maracanã, and a 2–1 win in La Bombonera, home of Boca Juniors. In a classic South American match-up, defending champions Santos defeated the Xeneixes on both legs of the final to retain the title.
Qualified teams CountryTeamQualification methodAppLastPrevious BestCONMEBOL1 berthSantos1962 Copa de Campeones winners2nd1962champion1 berthBoca Juniors1962 Primera División championfirst1 berthBotafogo1962 Taça Brasil runner-upfirst1 berthUniversidad de Chile1962 Primera División champion2nd1960preliminary round1 berthMillonarios1962 Campeonato Profesional champion3rd1962semifinals1 berthEverest1962 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol championfirst1 berthOlimpia1962 Primera División champion3rd1961runner-up1 berthAlianza Lima1962 Primera División championfirst1 berthPeñarol1962 Primera División champion4th1962champion (2)
Format and tie-breaking criteria Due to the uneven number of teams, the first round became a group stage with two groups of three and one group of two. The format for the semifinals and the finals remained the same as the previous season.
At each stage of the tournament teams receive 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and no points for a loss. If two or more teams are equal on points, the following criteria will be applied to determine the ranking in the group stage:
a one-game playoff; superior goal difference; draw of lots.
First round Eight teams were drawn into two groups of three and one group of two. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top team in each group advanced to the Semifinals. Santos, the title holders, had a bye to the next round.
Group 1 Team Botafogo440051+48 Alianza Lima411223−13 Millonarios401303−31
Group 2 Team Peñarol2200141+134 Everest2002114−130
Group 3 Team Boca Juniors430196+36 Olimpia4202710−34 Universidad de Chile41037702
Knockout stage Bracket
Four teams were drawn into two groups. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top team in each group advanced to the Finals.
Group A Team Boca Juniors220031+24 Peñarol200213−20
Group B Team Santos211051+43 Botafogo201115−41
Finals
Team Santos220053+24 Boca Juniors200235−20
Champion Copa Libertadores de América1963 ChampionSantosSecond Title
Top goalscorers PosPlayerTeamGoals1 José Sanfilippo Boca Juniors72 Pelé Santos5 Alberto Spencer Peñarol54 Paulo Valentim Boca Juniors45 Coutinho Santos3 José Francisco Sasía Peñarol3
Footnotes
A. Not played after Millonarios (already eliminated) preferred paying a fine of USD 4,500 rather than traveling to Rio for the match; points awarded to Botafogo but no goals.
External links
Copa Libertadores 1963 at CONMEBOL website Copa Libertadores 1963 at RSSSF