1963 Copa Libertadores Explained

Tourney Name:Copa de Campeones de América
Year:1963
Dates:April 7 – September 11
Num Teams:9
Confederations:8
Champion Other: Santos
Count:2
Second Other: Boca Juniors
Matches:19
Goals:63
Top Scorer: José Sanfilippo (7 goals)
Prevseason:1962
Nextseason:1964

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

width=125Countrywidth=150Teamwidth=300Qualification method
CONMEBOL
1 berth
Santos1962 Copa de Campeones winners
Argentina
1 berth
Boca Juniors1962 Primera División champion
Brazil
1 berth
Botafogo1962 Taça Brasil runner-up

1 berth
Universidad de Chile1962 Primera División champion

1 berth
Millonarios1962 Campeonato Profesional champion

1 berth
Everest1962 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol champion
Paraguay
1 berth
Olimpia1962 Primera División champion

1 berth
Alianza Lima1962 Primera División champion

1 berth
Peñarol1962 Primera División champion

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:

  1. a one-game playoff;
  2. superior goal difference;
  3. 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

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Group 2

Team
Peñarol2200141+134
Everest2002114−130

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Group 3

Team
Boca Juniors430196+36
Olimpia4202710−34
Universidad de Chile41037702

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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

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Boca Juniors220031+24
Peñarol200213−20

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Group B

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Santos211051+43
Botafogo201115−41

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Finals

See main article: 1963 Copa Libertadores Finals.

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Santos220053+24
Boca Juniors200235−20

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Top goalscorers

PosPlayerTeamGoals
1 José Sanfilippo Boca Juniors7
align=center rowspan=22 Pelé Santos5
Alberto Spencer Peñarol5
4 Paulo Valentim Boca Juniors4
align=center rowspan=25 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