Sports

Libertadores, Champions League: more than an ocean apart

libertadores champions league

Welcome back to the Brazil Sports newsletter! This week, we look at the financial chasm that exists between the Copa Libertadores and Champions League, and report on the bizarre criminal scheme of a group of Flamengo fans who wanted to “invade” their own stadium. Plus, all the latest sports news. Happy reading!

More than an ocean between Copa Libertadores and Champions League

Brazilian football had another of its epic evenings last week as Flamengo defeated Grêmio in the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, South America’s equivalent to the Champions League. Defeat, in fact, is not the right word. Flamengo obliterated Grêmio, winning 5-0 in front of a packed Maracanã, never giving their opponents the slightest glimmer of hope.

Why it matters. With that, Flamengo will go on to play Argentinian giants River Plate in the final of the Copa Libertadores next month, in a one-off match in Santiago. River are the current holders of South America’s biggest club competition, while Flamengo—the most popular club in South America—haven’t won it since 1981.

First South America, then the World. The ultimate goal of South American clubs, however, doesn’t end with the continental final. While the Libertadores is a huge and celebrated achievement, it also comes with a ticket to the World Club Cup—the absolute highest honor for any team outside of Europe.

Gulf in class. For decades, however, the gap in quality between the Champions League and Copa Libertadores winners has been getting wider and wider. With the exception of Corinthians’ impressive 2012 World Club Cup win over a fragile and underwhelming Chelsea side, teams from South America have struggled to even land a blow when coming up against Champions League winners.

A report from Italian football finance blog Calcio Finanza gives us a good indication of exactly why the gap is so large.

Comparing this year’s semi-finalists from both tournaments, there is a chasm between...

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