The 1968 Copa Libertadores was the ninth edition of the Copa Libertadores, South America's premier association football competition. It was played between January 27 and May 16. A record 21 teams participated in this edition.
This edition brought the debut of a team from the city of La Plata, capital of the Buenos Aires province, that did not find itself in the plateau of Argentine football. Estudiantes de La Plata, an authentic stranger in the highest levels of South American football, surpassed all expectations as they eliminated defending champions Racing and Independiente (two denominated "great" ones in Argentina as well as each having already won the tournament before).
With a talented prospect by the name of Juan Ramón Verón, the pincharatas beat Palmeiras 2–0 in a playoff after the final series finished 2–2 on points. Estudiantes conquered the title with an original style which emphasized athleticism and strategic preparation.
Qualified teams CountryTeamQualification methodCONMEBOL1 berthRacing1967 Copa Libertadores de América winners2 berthsIndependiente1967 Primera División championEstudiantes (LP)1967 Primera División runner-up2 berthsJorge Wilstermann1967 Torneo Nacional championAlways Ready1967 Torneo Nacional runner-up2 berthsPalmeiras1967 Taça Brasil championNáutico1967 Taça Brasil runner-up2 berthsUniversidad de Chile1967 Primera División championUniversidad Católica1967 Primera División runner-up2 berthsDeportivo Cali1967 Campeonato Profesional championMillonarios1967 Campeonato Profesional runner-up2 berthsEl Nacional1967 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A championEmelec1967 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A runner-up2 berthsGuaraní1967 Primera División championLibertad1967 Primera División runner-up2 berthsUniversitario1967 Torneo Descentralizado championSporting Cristal1967 Torneo Descentralizado runner-up2 berthsPeñarol1967 Primera División championNacional1967 Primera División runner-up2 berthsDeportivo Portugués1967 Primera División Venezolana championDeportivo Galicia1967 Primera División Venezolana 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 Racing was champion of the 1967 Copa Libertadores. They entered the tournament in the semifinals.
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5
Tie-breaking criteria 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 were equal on points, the following criteria was to be applied to determine the ranking in the group stage:
a one-game playoff; superior goal difference; draw of lots.
First round Twenty teams were drawn into five groups of four. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top two teams in each group advanced to the Second round. Racing, the title holders, had a bye to the semifinals.
Key to colors in group tablesGroup winners and runners-up advanced to the Second round
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Second round Ten teams were drawn into three groups, two groups of three and one group of four. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top team in each group advanced to the Semifinals, along with Racing.
Group A
Group B
Group C
Semifinals 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.
Semifinal 1
Estudiantes progressed to the finals due to better goal difference.
Semifinal 2
Finals
Champion Copa Libertadores de América1968 WinnersEstudiantes (LP)First Title
Top goalscorers PosPlayerTeamGoals 1 Tupãzinho Palmeiras 11 2 Alberto Spencer Peñarol 10 3 Juan Ramón Verón Estudiantes 9 4 Luis Artime Independiente 6 5 Felipe Ribaudo Estudiantes 6 6 Víctor Domingo Juárez Guaraní 6 Daniel Flores Universitario 6 Juan Carlos Sarnari Universidad Católica 6 9 Servílio Palmeiras 5 Alberto Gallardo Sporting Cristal 5
Footnotes
A. The match finished 1-1, but Jorge Wilstermann were declared 0-1 winners after Troncoso's own goal was declared invalid. B. The match finished 3-2, but the 2 points were awarded to Deportivo Portugués as Náutico made two substitutions.
External links
Sitio oficial de la CONMEBOL RSSSF on the 1968 Copa Libertadores