1966 Copa Libertadores
The 1966 Copa Libertadores de América was the seventh edition of the competition, the premier South American club football tournament, organized by CONMEBOL. Colombia and Brazil did not send their representatives. This edition became the first club competition of the world to include the runners-up of each of its participating association. Despite the fact that Colombian and Brazilian clubs did not participate, this tournament saw a record 95 matches being played out to determine this year's champion.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 5 - April 15 |
| Teams | 17 (from 8 confederations) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Peñarol (3rd title) |
| Runners-up |  River Plate |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 95 |
| Goals scored | 283 (2.98 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Daniel Onega (17 goals) |
Colombia did not send a representative due to the disagreements between CONMEBOL and the Colombian football federations. The Brazilians protested the inclusion of the runners-up of each nation and argued that the tournament should be reserved for national champions. That led them to become denatured and the powers reserved only for the champions, in addition to the priority order they gave their interstate tournaments and the many unattractive encounters-to-come against teams from the "Pacific", the Brazilian clubs opted for tours around the world instead as they were seen more economically rewarding. Not having any economic incentives, CONMEBOL was forced to allow clubs the freedom of whether they participated or not. This trend will continue for the next 5 editions.
After winning each of their home legs, Peñarol and River Plate required a playoff to break the deadlock. The match was played in the Estadio Nacional of Santiago, Chile. River Plate finished the first half 2-0 and was in cruise control towards its first title. The manyas managed to revert the disadvantage to push this match into extra time. With two more goals, the final score of 2-4 meant that Peñarol became the first three-time winners of the competition. The collapse of River Plate in the second half led the club to being known, even now, as the "gallinas".
Qualified teams
| Country | Team | Qualification method |
|---|---|---|
| CONMEBOL 1 berth |
Independiente | 1965 Copa Libertadores winners |
| Argentina 1 berth |
Boca Juniors | 1965 Primera División champion |
| River Plate | 1965 Primera División runner-up | |
 Bolivia1 berth |
Deportivo Municipal | 1965 Copa Simón Bolívar champion |
| Jorge Wilstermann | 1965 Copa Simón Bolívar runner-up | |
 Chile1 berth |
Universidad de Chile | 1965 Primera División champion |
| Universidad Católica | 1965 Primera División runner-up | |
 Ecuador1 berth |
Emelec | 1965 Campeonato Ecuatoriano champion |
| 9 de Octubre | 1965 Campeonato Ecuatoriano runner-up | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Paraguay1 berth |
Olimpia | 1965 Primera División champion |
| Guaraní | 1965 Primera División runner-up | |
 Peru1 berth |
Alianza Lima | 1965 Primera División champion |
| Universitario | 1965 Primera División runner-up | |
| Uruguay 1 berth |
Peñarol | 1965 Primera División champion |
| Nacional | 1965 Primera División runner-up | |
 Venezuela1 berth |
Lara | 1965 Primera División champion |
| Deportivo Italia | 1965 Primera División 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:
- a one-game playoff;
- superior goal difference;
- draw of lots.
First round
Sixteen teams were drawn into two groups of six and one group of four. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top two teams in each group advanced to the Semifinals. Independiente, the title holders, had a bye to the next round.
Group 1
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Plate |
10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 8 | +15 | 17 |
| Boca Juniors |
10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 9 | +10 | 14 |
| Universitario |
10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 11 |
| Deportivo Italia |
10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 18 | -3 | 10 |
| Alianza Lima |
10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 16 | -7 | 4 |
| Lara |
10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 17 | -12 | 4 |
| February 5, 1966 | Universitario | 2 – 0 | Alianza Lima | Lima |
Chumpitaz  Challe |
| February 5, 1966 | Lara | 1 – 1 | Deportivo Italia | Barquisimeto |
| Paulinho |
Nitti |
| February 8, 1966 | Lara | 2 – 1 | Alianza Lima | Barquisimeto |
| Paulinho Jair |
León |
| February 9, 1966 | Deportivo Italia | 2 – 2 | Universitario | Caracas |
| Zeica Tacoronte |
Uribe Chumpitaz |
| February 10, 1966 | River Plate | 2 – 1 | Boca Juniors | Buenos Aires |
| Sarnari Bayo |
Rojas |
| February 12, 1966 | Deportivo Italia | 3 – 1 | Alianza Lima | Caracas |
| Tacoronte Zeica Nitti |
Flores |
| February 12, 1966 | Lara | 0 – 0 | Universitario | Barquisimeto |
| February 15, 1966 | Lara | 1 – 2 | River Plate | Barquisimeto |
| Didi II |
Onega |
| February 17, 1966 | Universitario | 2 – 1 | Boca Juniors | Lima |
| Challe Casaretto |
Zarich |
| February 17, 1966 | Deportivo Italia | 0 – 3 | River Plate | Caracas |
| Onega Solari Sarnari |
| February 19, 1966 | Alianza Lima | 0 – 1 | Boca Juniors | Lima |
| Rojas |
| February 23, 1966 | Deportivo Italia | 1 – 2 | Boca Juniors | Caracas |
| Vicente |
Zarich Rojas |
| February 23, 1966 | Universitario | 1 – 1 | River Plate | Lima |
| Casaretto |
Onega |
| February 25, 1966 | Lara | 0 – 3 | Boca Juniors | Barquisimeto |
| Rojas Luna |
| February 26, 1966 | Alianza Lima | 0 – 2 | River Plate | Lima |
| Onega Matosas |
| March 1, 1966 | Alianza Lima | 1 – 2 | Deportivo Italia | Lima |
| Renato o.g.' |
Zeica |
| March 2, 1966 | River Plate | 5 – 0 | Universitario | Buenos Aires |
| Onega Cubilla Loayza |
| March 2, 1966 | Boca Juniors | 2 – 1 | Lara | Buenos Aires |
| López Rojas |
Bezerra |
| March 4, 1966 | River Plate | 3 – 0 | Lara | Buenos Aires |
| Loayza Delem |
| March 8, 1966 | River Plate | 3 – 2 | Alianza Lima | Buenos Aires |
| Loayza Onega Zywica |
Zegarra |
| March 8, 1966 | Boca Juniors | 5 – 2 | Deportivo Italia | Buenos Aires |
| Menéndez Aimonetti Rojas Luna |
Nitti |
| March 8, 1966 | Universitario | 1 – 0 | Lara | Lima |
| Córdova |
| March 10, 1966 | River Plate | 2 – 1 | Deportivo Italia | Buenos Aires |
| Loayza Onega |
Nitti |
| March 10, 1966 | Boca Juniors | 0 – 1 | Alianza Lima | Buenos Aires |
| Zegarra |
| March 13, 1966 | Alianza Lima | 3 – 0 | Lara | Lima |
| Zegarra Reyes |
| March 13, 1966 | Universitario | 1 – 2 | Deportivo Italia | Lima |
| Calatayud |
Nitti Tacoronte |
| March 17, 1966 | Deportivo Italia | 1 – 0 | Lara | Caracas |
| Nitti |
| March 18, 1966 | Boca Juniors | 2 – 0 | Universitario | Buenos Aires |
| Marzolini Rojas |
| March 23, 1966 | Alianza Lima | 0 – 1 [A] | Universitario | Lima |
| Uribe |
| March 24, 1966 | Boca Juniors | 2 – 0 | River Plate | Buenos Aires |
| Rojas |
Group 2
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universidad Católica |
6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 7 |
| Guaraní |
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| Olimpia |
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 6 |
| Universidad de Chile |
6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 5 |
| March 2, 1966 | Universidad de Chile | 0 – 0 | Universidad Católica | Santiago |
| March 5, 1966 | Universidad Católica | 2 – 0 | Guaraní | Santiago |
| Gallardo Tobar |
| March 5, 1966 | Universidad de Chile | 1 – 2 | Olimpia | Santiago |
| Sánchez |
Torres |
| March 8, 1966 | Universidad de Chile | 2 – 0 | Guaraní | Santiago |
| Marcos Araya |
| March 8, 1966 | Universidad Católica | 0 – 0 | Olimpia | Santiago |
| March 11, 1966 | Guaraní | 1 – 1 | Universidad de Chile | Asunción |
| Arámbulo |
Sánchez |
| March 11, 1966 | Olimpia | 0 – 4 | Universidad Católica | Asunción |
| Tobar Prieto |
| March 16, 1966 | Guaraní | 3 – 1 | Universidad Católica | Asunción |
| Patiño González Arámbulo |
Fouilloux |
| March 16, 1966 | Olimpia | 2 – 0 | Universidad de Chile | Asunción |
| Torres González |
| March 20, 1966 | Universidad Católica | 2 – 2 | Universidad de Chile | Santiago |
| Prieto Fouilloux |
Marcos Campos |
Group 3
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peñarol |
10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 10 | +10 | 16 |
| Nacional |
10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 10 | +12 | 15 |
| Jorge Wilstermann |
10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 10 |
| Deportivo Municipal |
10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 22 | -1 | 9 |
| Emelec |
10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 18 | -3 | 8 |
| 9 de Octubre |
10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 31 | -18 | 2 |
| January 30, 1966 | Emelec | 2 – 1 | 9 de Octubre | Guayaquil |
| Pulido Lencina |
Fernández |
| January 30, 1966 | Deportivo Municipal | 1 – 1 | Jorge Wilstermann | La Paz |
| Di Meglio |
García |
| January 30, 1966 | Nacional | 4 – 0 | Peñarol | Montevideo |
| Morales Techera Virgili Pérez |
| February 2, 1966 | Deportivo Municipal | 3 – 2 | Nacional | La Paz |
| Di Meglio Quevedo |
Oyarbide Virgili |
| February 2, 1966 | Jorge Wilstermann | 1 – 0 | Peñarol | Cochabamba |
| García |
| February 6, 1966 | 9 de Octubre | 1 – 2 | Peñarol | Guayaquil |
| Grijo |
Rocha Spencer |
| February 13, 1966 | Deportivo Municipal | 1 – 2 | Peñarol | La Paz |
| Caínzo |
Abbadie Spencer |
| February 13, 1966 | Jorge Wilstermann | 0 – 0 | Nacional | Cochabamba |
| February 19, 1966 | Emelec | 3 – 1 | Jorge Wilstermann | Guayaquil |
| Lencina Calonga |
Soria |
| February 19, 1966 | 9 de Octubre | 3 – 4 | Deportivo Municipal | Guayaquil |
| Bono Fernández Grijo |
Moyano Castillo |
| February 24, 1966 | 9 de Octubre | 3 – 2 | Jorge Wilstermann | Guayaquil |
| Fernández Bono Grijo |
García López |
| February 24, 1966 | Emelec | 2 – 1 | Deportivo Municipal | Guayaquil |
| Lencina Merizalde |
Di Meglio |
| March 2, 1966 | Nacional | 4 – 1 | Deportivo Municipal | Montevideo |
| Morales Virgili |
Moyano |
| March 2, 1966 | Peñarol | 2 – 0 | Jorge Wilstermann | Montevideo |
| Silva |
| March 5, 1966 | Nacional | 3 – 0 | Jorge Wilstermann | Montevideo |
| Morales Virgili Ramos |
| March 5, 1966 | Peñarol | 3 – 1 | Deportivo Municipal | Montevideo |
| Silva Spencer Joya |
Moyano |
| March 8, 1966 | Nacional | 1 – 0 | Emelec | Montevideo |
| Oyarbide |
| March 8, 1966 | Peñarol | 2 – 0 | 9 de Octubre | Montevideo |
| Caetano Rocha |
| March 11, 1966 | Nacional | 3 – 1 | 9 de Octubre | Montevideo |
| Ramos Morales |
Fernández |
| March 11, 1966 | Peñarol | 4 – 1 | Emelec | Montevideo |
| Silva Alfano |
Bolaños |
| March 13, 1966 | Jorge Wilstermann | 2 – 1 | Emelec | Cochabamba |
| López Zabalaga |
Pineda |
| March 17, 1966 | Jorge Wilstermann | 4 – 1 | 9 de Octubre | Cochabamba |
| García Agreda López |
Fernández |
| March 17, 1966 | Deportivo Municipal | 4 – 1 | Emelec | La Paz |
| Torres Moyano Aguirre |
Bolaños |
| March 19, 1966 | Deportivo Municipal | 5 – 1 | 9 de Octubre | La Paz |
| Moyano Caínzo Castillo Espinoza Aguirre |
Fernández |
| March 19, 1966 | Peñarol | 3 – 0 | Nacional | Montevideo |
| Rocha Joya |
| March 23, 1966 | Jorge Wilstermann | 3 – 0 | Deportivo Municipal | Cochabamba |
| García López |
| March 23, 1966 | 9 de Octubre | 0 – 4 | Emelec | Guayaquil |
| Lencina Fernández o.g.' |
Semifinals
Seven teams were drawn into two groups, one of four and the other of three. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top team in each group advanced to the Finals.
Group A
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Plate |
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 8 |
| Independiente |
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 8 |
| Boca Juniors |
6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 7 |
| Guaraní |
6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 1 |
| March 30, 1966 | Guaraní | 1 – 3 | Boca Juniors | Asunción |
| González |
Menéndez Rojas |
| April 6, 1966 | Guaraní | 1 – 3 | River Plate | Asunción |
| González |
Solari Onega Loayza |
| April 8, 1966 | Boca Juniors | 0 – 2 | Independiente | Buenos Aires |
| Cardoso Tarabini |
| April 12, 1966 | Independiente | 1 – 1 | River Plate | Avellaneda |
| Tarabini |
Solari |
| April 14, 1966 | River Plate | 2 – 2 | Boca Juniors | Buenos Aires |
| Sarnari Silvero o.g.' |
Madurga Rojas |
| April 14, 1966 | Guaraní | 0 – 2 | Independiente | Asunción |
| Cardoso Pastoriza |
| April 19, 1966 | River Plate | 4 – 2 | Independiente | Buenos Aires |
| Onega Sarnari |
Savoy |
| April 19, 1966 | Boca Juniors | 1 – 1 | Guaraní | Buenos Aires |
| Rojas |
Melgarejo |
| April 21, 1966 | River Plate | 3 – 1 | Guaraní | Buenos Aires |
| Onega Loayza |
Martínez |
| April 26, 1966 | Independiente | 2 – 1 | Guaraní | Avellaneda |
| Tarabini Savoy |
Navarro o.g.' |
| April 29, 1966 | Independiente | 0 – 0 | Boca Juniors | Avellaneda |
| May 4, 1966 | Boca Juniors | 1 – 0 | River Plate | Buenos Aires |
| Rojas |
| May 20, 1966 First place playoff | River Plate | 2 – 1 | Independiente | Buenos Aires |
| Onega Cubilla |
Artime |
Group B
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peñarol |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 6 |
| Universidad Católica |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 4 |
| Nacional |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 2 |
| March 30, 1966 | Universidad Católica | 1 – 0 | Peñarol | Santiago |
| Ibañez |
| April 2, 1966 | Universidad Católica | 1 – 0 | Nacional | Santiago |
| Inostroza |
| April 10, 1966 | Peñarol | 3 – 0 | Nacional | Montevideo |
| Rocha |
| April 14, 1966 | Nacional | 3 – 2 | Universidad Católica | Montevideo |
| Virgili Oyarbide |
Tobar Inostroza |
| April 19, 1966 | Peñarol | 2 – 0 | Universidad Católica | Montevideo |
| Rocha Joya |
| April 23, 1966 | Nacional | 0 – 1 | Peñarol | Montevideo |
| Cortés |
Finals
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peñarol | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 2 |
| River Plate | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 |
| Peñarol | 2–0 | River Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Abbadie 74' Joya 84' |
Champion
| Copa Libertadores de América 1966 Champion |
|---|
Peñarol Third Title |
Top goalscorers
| Pos | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Onega |
River Plate |
17 |
| 2 | Pedro Rocha |
Peñarol |
10 |
| 3 | Alfredo Hugo Rojas |
Boca Juniors |
7 |
| Julio César Morales |
Nacional |
7 | |
| Orlando Virgili |
Nacional |
7 | |
| Agostino Nitti |
Deportivo Italia |
7 | |
| Salomón Moyano |
Deportivo Municipal |
7 | |
| Gerardo González |
Olimpia |
7 | |
| Hugo Lencina |
Emelec |
7 | |
| Cirilo Fernández |
9 de Octubre |
7 | |
| Ausberto García |
Jorge Wilstermann |
7 |
Footnotes
- A. ^ The match finished 1-1, but Universitario were declared 0-1 winners as Alianza fielded two ineligible players: Catalá and Cruz.