The 1979 Copa Libertadores represented the 20th edition of the tournament, which saw Olimpia of Paraguay win the title for the first time. They defeated the defending champions, Boca Juniors of Argentina. Olimpia's title was the first instance of a team from a country other than Uruguay, Argentina or Brazil winning Copa Libertadores. This allowed the Paraguayan side to play the Intercontinental Cup against Malmö FF of Sweden, in which the South American side won.
Qualified teams CountryTeamQualify methodCONMEBOL(1 berth)Boca Juniors1978 Copa Libertadores champion2 berthsIndependiente1978 Campeonato Nacional championsQuilmes1978 Campeonato Metropolitano champions2 berthsBolívar 1978 Primera División championJorge Wilstermann1978 Primera División runner-up2 berthsGuarani1978 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A championPalmeiras1978 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2nd place2 berthsPalestino1978 Primera División championO'Higgins1978 Liguilla Pre-Copa Libertadores winner2 berthsMillonarios1978 Campeonato Profesional championDeportivo Cali1978 Campeonato Profesional runner-up2 berthsEl Nacional1978 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A championTécnico Universitario1978 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A runner-up2 berthsOlimpia1978 Primera División runner-upSol de América1978 Primera División third place2 berthsAlianza Lima1978 Torneo Descentralizado championUniversitario1978 Torneo Descentralizado runner-up2 berthsPeñarol 1978 Liguilla Pre-Libertadores winnerNacional1978 Liguilla Pre-Libertadores runner-up2 berthsPortuguesa1978 Primera División championDeportivo Galicia1978 Primera División runner-up
Draw The champions and runners-up of each football association were drawn into the same group along with another football association's participating teams. Three clubs from Argentina competed as Boca Juniors was champion of the 1978 Copa Libertadores. They entered the tournament in the Semifinals.
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5
Group stage Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Semifinals
Group A
Tiebreaker
Group B
Finals
Champion Copa Libertadores1979 ChampionsOlimpiaFirst Title
Top-scorers 6 goles Juan José Oré (Universitario) Milt%C3%A3o (Guaraní)
External links
Sitio oficial de la CONMEBOL Libertadores 1979 at RSSSF.com