1965 Copa Libertadores Explained

Tourney Name:Copa Libertadores de América
Year:1965
Dates:January 31 – April 15
Num Teams:10
Confederations:9
Champion Other: Independiente
Count:2
Second Other: Peñarol
Matches:26
Goals:83
Top Scorer: Pelé (8 goals)
Prevseason:1964
Nextseason:1966

The 1965 Copa Libertadores de América was the sixth edition of South America's premier club football tournament. Colombia did not send a representative due to the disagreements between CONMEBOL and the Colombian football federation. This became the last edition of the tournament in which only the national champions of each association could participate.

After the victorious campaign the previous year, Independiente would go on to successfully defend the title after beating another Uruguayan team, this time Peñarol. Independiente began a legacy that saw it become a world class football team and paved the way for future conquests.

Qualified teams

width=125Countrywidth=150Teamwidth=300Qualification method
CONMEBOL
1 berth
Independiente1964 Copa Libertadores winners
Argentina
1 berth
Boca Juniors1964 Primera División champion

1 berth
The Strongest1964 Copa Simón Bolívar champion
Brazil
1 berth
Santos1964 Brasileiro Série A champion

1 berth
Universidad de Chile1964 Primera División champion

1 berth
Deportivo Quito1964 Campeonato Ecuatoriano champion
Paraguay
1 berth
Guaraní1964 Primera División champion

1 berth
Universitario1964 Primera División champion

1 berth
Peñarol1964 Primera División champion

1 berth
Deportivo Galicia1964 Primera División champion

Tie-breaking criteria

The format of the competition remained nearly the same as the previous year's edition; the preliminary round was eliminated from this edition.

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

Nine teams were drawn into three groups. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top team in each group advanced to the Semifinals. Independiente, the title holders, had a bye to the next round.

Group 1

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Boca Juniors440011388
The Strongest411257−23
Deportivo Quito401339−61

Group 2

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Santos440010378
Universidad de Chile410369−32
Universitario410359−42

Group 3

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Peñarol43015236
Guaraní43016516
Deportivo Galicia400426−40

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.

Group A

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Independiente210121+12
Boca Juniors210112−12
Independiente progressed to the finals due to better goal difference.

Group B

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Peñarol21017702
Santos21017702

Finals

See main article: 1965 Copa Libertadores Finals.

width=175 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
Independiente210123−12
Peñarol210132+12

Top goalscorers

PosPlayerTeamGoals
1 Pelé Santos8
align=center rowspan=42 Pedro Rocha Peñarol4
José Francisco Sasía Peñarol4
Héctor Jesús Silva Peñarol4
Pepe Santos4

Footnotes

A.  Points were taken from Deportivo Galicia due to irregularities in their line-up. Peñarol was awarded the points. Peñarol advanced due to goal difference.

External links