1968 Copa Libertadores

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.

1968 Copa Libertadores
1968 Copa Libertadores de América
1968 Copa Libertadores da América
Tournament details
DatesJanuary 27 - May 16
Teams21 (from 10 confederations)
Final positions
ChampionsArgentina Estudiantes (LP) (1st title)
Runners-upBrazil Palmeiras
Tournament statistics
Matches played93
Goals scored230 (2.47 per match)
Top scorer(s)Brazil Tupãzinho (11 goals)

This edition brought the explosive debut of a humble 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
Country Team Qualification method
CONMEBOL
1 berth		 Racing 1967 Copa Libertadores de América winners
 Argentina
2 berths		 Independiente 1967 Primera División champion
Estudiantes 1967 Primera División runner-up
 Bolivia
2 berths		 Jorge Wilstermann 1967 Torneo Nacional champion
Always Ready 1967 Torneo Nacional runner-up
 Brazil
2 berths		 Palmeiras 1967 Taça Brasil champion
Náutico 1967 Taça Brasil runner-up
 Chile
2 berths		 Universidad de Chile 1967 Primera División champion
Universidad Católica 1967 Primera División runner-up
 Colombia
2 berths		 Deportivo Cali 1967 Campeonato Profesional champion
Millonarios 1967 Campeonato Profesional runner-up
 Ecuador
2 berths		 El Nacional 1967 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A champion
Emelec 1967 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A runner-up
 Paraguay
2 berths		 Guaraní 1967 Primera División champion
Libertad 1967 Primera División runner-up
 Peru
2 berths		 Universitario 1967 Torneo Descentralizado champion
Sporting Cristal 1967 Torneo Descentralizado runner-up
 Uruguay
2 berths		 Peñarol 1967 Primera División champion
Nacional 1967 Primera División runner-up
 Venezuela
2 berths		 Deportivo Portugués 1967 Primera División Venezolana champion
Deportivo Galicia 1967 Primera División Venezolana runner-up

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 are equal on points, the following criteria will be applied to determine the ranking in the group stage:

  1. a one-game playoff;
  2. superior goal difference;
  3. 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 tables
Group winners and runners-up advanced to the Second round

Group 1
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Argentina Estudiantes 6510123+911
Argentina Independiente 6213810-25
Colombia Deportivo Cali 6213610-45
Colombia Millonarios 611469-33
Independiente Argentina2 – 4Argentina Estudiantes
Bernao
Artime 		Ribaudo
Echecopar
Verón
Millonarios Colombia1 – 2Argentina Independiente
Ferrero Bernao
Artime
Millonarios Colombia0 – 1Argentina Estudiantes
Flores
Deportivo Cali Colombia1 – 0Argentina Independiente
Iroldo
Deportivo Cali Colombia1 – 2Argentina Estudiantes
Manera o.g.' Bilardo
Echecopar
Millonarios Colombia4 – 2Colombia Deportivo Cali
Ferrero
Aceros
Fernández
Frattini 		Álvarez
Desiderio
Estudiantes Argentina3 – 0Colombia Deportivo Cali
Ribaudo
Verón
Echecopar
Independiente Argentina3 – 1Colombia Millonarios
Artime Rodríguez
Estudiantes Argentina0 – 0Colombia Millonarios
Independiente Argentina1 – 1Colombia Deportivo Cali
Savoy Iroldo
Deportivo Cali Colombia1 – 0Colombia Millonarios
Ferreira
Estudiantes Argentina2 – 0Argentina Independiente
Pachamé
Conigliaro
Second
place playoff
Independiente Argentina3 – 2Colombia Deportivo Cali
Pastoriza
Bernao
Artime 		Iroldo
Sánchez

Group 2
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Peru Universitario 6330174+139
Peru Sporting Cristal 6330115+69
Bolivia Jorge Wilstermann 621358-35
Bolivia Always Ready 6015218-161
Always Ready Bolivia0 – 3Peru Universitario
Flores
Casaretto
Jorge Wilstermann Bolivia0 – 1Peru Sporting Cristal
Castillo
Always Ready Bolivia1 – 4Peru Sporting Cristal
Villante Pajuelo
Aquije
Castillo
Jorge Wilstermann Bolivia0 – 0Peru Universitario
Jorge Wilstermann Bolivia3 – 0Bolivia Always Ready
López
Cabrera
Universitario Peru1 – 1Peru Sporting Cristal
Challe Aquije
Sporting Cristal Peru2 – 0Bolivia Jorge Wilstermann
Risco
Castillo
Universitario Peru5 – 1Bolivia Jorge Wilstermann
Rojas
Flores 		López
Sporting Cristal Peru1 – 1Bolivia Always Ready
Gallardo Morales
Universitario Peru6 – 0Bolivia Always Ready
Flores
Lobatón
Rojas
Staukas o.g.'
Sporting Cristal Peru2 – 2Peru Universitario
Aquije
Gallardo 		Calatayud
Challe
Always Ready Bolivia0 – 1
[A]		Bolivia Jorge Wilstermann
Cabrera

Group 3
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Chile Universidad Católica 6411117+49
Ecuador Emelec 623154+17
Ecuador El Nacional 621356-15
Chile Universidad de Chile 6114610-43
Emelec Ecuador0 – 0Ecuador El Nacional
El Nacional Ecuador1 – 1Chile Universidad Católica
Rodríguez Sarnari
Emelec Ecuador2 – 1Chile Universidad de Chile
Mena
Hernández 		Gangas
Emelec Ecuador1 – 2Chile Universidad Católica
Echeverría Isella
Gallardo
El Nacional Ecuador3 – 1Chile Universidad de Chile
Correa
Rodríguez
Rangel 		Marcos
Universidad Católica Chile3 – 2Chile Universidad de Chile
Sarnari
Gallardo 		Oleniak
Yávar
Universidad Católica Chile2 – 0Ecuador El Nacional
Isella
Varas
Universidad de Chile Chile0 – 0Ecuador Emelec
Universidad Católica Chile1 – 1Ecuador Emelec
Sarnari Sosa
Universidad de Chile Chile1 – 0Ecuador El Nacional
Campos
Universidad de Chile Chile1 – 2Chile Universidad Católica
Yávar Messén
El Nacional Ecuador0 – 1Ecuador Emelec
Mena

Group 4
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uruguay Peñarol 632182+68
Paraguay Guaraní 623187+17
Uruguay Nacional 622295+46
Paraguay Libertad 6114213-113
Peñarol Uruguay1 – 0Uruguay Nacional
Spencer
Guaraní Paraguay2 – 0Paraguay Libertad
Juárez
Martínez
Nacional Uruguay2 – 2Paraguay Guaraní
Techera
Mújica 		García
Peñarol Uruguay4 – 0Paraguay Libertad
Spencer
Rocha
Bertocchi
Nacional Uruguay4 – 0Paraguay Libertad
Morales
Mújica
Célio
Peñarol Uruguay2 – 0Paraguay Guaraní
Spencer
Libertad Paraguay1 – 1Paraguay Guaraní
Ayala Juárez
Nacional Uruguay0 – 0Uruguay Peñarol
Libertad Paraguay1 – 0Uruguay Peñarol
Fleitas
Guaraní Paraguay2 – 1Uruguay Nacional
Ivaldi
Martínez 		Célio
Guaraní Paraguay1 – 1Uruguay Peñarol
Juárez Abbadie
Libertad Paraguay0 – 2Uruguay Nacional
Célio
Virgili

Group 5
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Brazil Palmeiras 6510123+911
Venezuela Deportivo Portugués 6213511-65
Brazil Náutico 612378-14
Venezuela Deportivo Galicia 620457-24
Deportivo Galicia Venezuela2 – 0Venezuela Deportivo Portugués
Ceslo
Náutico Brazil1 – 3Brazil Palmeiras
Ladeira Ademir
Tupãzinho
Deportivo Portugués Venezuela1 – 1Brazil Náutico
Ramos Iván
Deportivo Galicia Venezuela2 – 1Brazil Náutico
Becerra
Olavo 		Lala
Deportivo Galicia Venezuela1 – 2Brazil Palmeiras
Chacho Ademir
Díaz o.g.'
Deportivo Portugués Venezuela1 – 2Brazil Palmeiras
Ramos Tupãzinho
Pantera
Náutico Brazil1 – 0Venezuela Deportivo Galicia
Nino
Náutico Brazil[B]Venezuela Deportivo Portugués
Palmeiras Brazil2 – 0Venezuela Deportivo Galicia
Servílio
Tupãzinho
Palmeiras Brazil3 – 0Venezuela Deportivo Portugués
Servílio
Ademir
Palmeiras Brazil0 – 0Brazil Náutico
Deportivo Portugués Venezuela1 – 0Venezuela Deportivo Galicia
Ratto

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 Club.

Key to colors in group tables
Group winners advanced to the Semifinals

Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Argentina Estudiantes 430142+26
Argentina Independiente 420273+44
Peru Universitario 410317-62
Universitario Peru1 – 0Argentina Estudiantes
Lobatón
Universitario Peru0 – 3Argentina Independiente
Pastoriza
Independiente Argentina1 – 2Argentina Estudiantes
Pavoni Ribaudo
Estudiantes Argentina1 – 0Argentina Independiente
Flores
Estudiantes Argentina1 – 0Peru Universitario
Verón
Independiente Argentina3 – 0Peru Universitario
Yazalde
Tarabini
Artime

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uruguay Peñarol 6420101+910
Peru Sporting Cristal 624073+48
Ecuador Emelec 611437-43
Venezuela Deportivo Portugués 6114312-93
Deportivo Portugués Venezuela0 – 3Uruguay Peñarol
Silva
Méndez
Spencer
Emelec Ecuador0 – 2Peru Sporting Cristal
Mifflin
Aquije
Emelec Ecuador0 – 1Uruguay Peñarol
Spencer
Deportivo Portugués Venezuela1 – 1Peru Sporting Cristal
Curro Pajuelo
Emelec Ecuador2 – 0Venezuela Deportivo Portugués
Sosa
Sporting Cristal Peru0 – 0Uruguay Peñarol
Sporting Cristal Peru2 – 0Venezuela Deportivo Portugués
Gallardo
Peñarol Uruguay4 – 0Venezuela Deportivo Portugués
Spencer
Abbadie
Bertocchi
Sporting Cristal Peru1 – 1Ecuador Emelec
Gallardo Echeverría
Peñarol Uruguay1 – 0Ecuador Emelec
Cortés
Peñarol Uruguay1 – 1Peru Sporting Cristal
Spencer Risco
Deportivo Portugués Venezuela2 – 0Ecuador Emelec
Ramos

Group C
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Brazil Palmeiras 430174+36
Paraguay Guaraní 42027704
Chile Universidad Católica 410369-32
Universidad Católica Chile4 – 1Paraguay Guaraní
Sarnari
Isella 		García
Guaraní Paraguay3 – 1Chile Universidad Católica
Juárez
Sosa
García 		Varas
Palmeiras Brazil4 – 1Chile Universidad Católica
Tupãzinho
Pantera
Rinaldo 		Varas
Guaraní Paraguay2 – 0Brazil Palmeiras
Juárez
Martínez
Universidad Católica Chile0 – 1Brazil Palmeiras
Dudú
Palmeiras Brazil2 – 1Paraguay Guaraní
Tupãzinho
Servílio 		Juárez

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
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Argentina Estudiantes311143+13
Argentina Racing311134-13
Estudiantes Argentina3–0Argentina Racing
Verón
Perfumo
Racing Argentina2–0Argentina Estudiantes
Maschio
Fucceneco
Playoff
Racing Argentina1–1Argentina Estudiantes
Cárdenas Verón

Estudiantes progressed to the finals due to better goal difference.

Semifinal 2
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Brazil Palmeiras220031+24
Uruguay Peñarol200213-20
Palmeiras Brazil1 – 0Uruguay Peñarol
Tupãzinho
Peñarol Uruguay1 – 2Brazil Palmeiras
Silva Tupãzinho

Finals
Main article: 1968 Copa Libertadores Finals
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Argentina Estudiantes210134-12
Brazil Palmeiras210143+12
Estudiantes Argentina2–1Brazil Palmeiras
Verón 83'
Bocha 87'		 Servilio 30'
Attendance: 35,000
Palmeiras Brazil3–1Argentina Estudiantes
Tupãzinho 10', 68'
Rinaldo 54'		 Verón 72'
Attendance: 40,000
Playoff
Palmeiras Brazil0–2Argentina Estudiantes
Ribaudo 13'
Verón 82'
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: César Orozco (Peru)

Champion
Copa Libertadores de América
1968 Winners
Argentina
Estudiantes
First Title

Top goalscorers
Pos Player Team Goals
1 Brazil Tupãzinho Brazil Palmeiras 11
2 Ecuador Alberto Spencer Uruguay Peñarol 10
3 Argentina Juan Ramón Verón Argentina Estudiantes 9
4 Argentina Luis Artime Argentina Independiente 6
5 Argentina Felipe Ribaudo Argentina Estudiantes 6
6 Paraguay Víctor Domingo Juárez Paraguay Guaraní 6
Peru D. Flores Peru Universitario 6
Argentina Juan Carlos Sarnari Chile Universidad Católica 6
9 Brazil Servílio Brazil Palmeiras 5
Peru Alberto Gallardo Peru 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.
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