It’s been a long time since then CONMEBOL is trying to imitate the European Champions League model in its tournaments. He has not yet tweaked the system, as the Europeans did last season, but it would not be surprising if he repeats the move in the not-too-distant future, just as he has already integrated more and more teams into the Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana, liquidated the old finals with home-and-away matches to resolve everything in one encounter on a neutral field and organizes musical performances in the run-up to the big afternoon.
However, there is a ‘detail’ in it, for now, Still an ocean away. Decisive confrontations on this side of the Atlantic are handled in a manner unlike what happens across the sea. The same players who developed a large part of their careers in Europe are changing their behavior when they return to their continental homeland: If they devote themselves there to first-class play and research, here they inflict permanent physical trauma; If they get up there immediately when they hit the ground, they are overestimating the frequency and severity of falls.
This does not mean in any way that all European finals will be of great quality. Sometimes, tactical reasons generate a certain amount of boredom, But at least the ball runs longer without interruption by unnecessary mistakes or flowery discussions Who only seek to make life more difficult to judge than necessary. This was not what happened in Lima.
Regardless of the plethora of Flamengo and Palmeiras players with a past on the Old Continent, the fifth Copa Libertadores encounter between Brazilian teams since 2020 has typically been South American. Passionate, dramatic, brave, deadly, outspoken, controversial, and certainly ugly. As often happens in these cases, it is determined more by loose procedures than by game development. This time there were two.
The first happened 30 minutes after the start of the first half. In an illogical play in the midfield for the Chilean Eric Polgar (In a good match, apart from that second which could have been fatal) he delivered a treacherous blow to the tibia of Bruno Fuchs. Dario Herrera was nearby, saw what happened and only showed him the yellow card. Hector Paleta, in VAR, has left the forum (Or he called, but Herrera pretended not to hear him.) It was definitely red Palmeiras will have reason to complain for the rest of history when this match is discussed.
The other was on the 21st of the second half. Murilo Cerqueira passed a ball coming out of the back, thinking it was a goal kick. He had sponsored a colleague. It was a corner kick, taken by Giorgian De Arrascaeta (the rightful champion of the tournament).Verdau’s defense scored a bad goal and a jump shot Danilo’s strike will remain in Mingau’s memory forever. He shot the ball towards the right post, it bounced and went into the net: enough to turn it into the Olympics, and make the red and black team the most winning Brazilian club in the Libertadores, with four titles.
It is likely that the team you coach Felipe Luis Play the best soccer in South America. He showed it several times during the year, although it was always from time to time. When he can pass the ball through the feet of Jorginho, De Arrascaeta, Carrascal, Aleix Sandro, Guillermo Varela and others, his game has a luxurious sheen. There’s a reason he can do the double on Wednesday and also stay with the Brazilian league. But it usually turns off as quickly as it turns on. Then he has to suffer, a scenario he has witnessed many times in this cup.
Flamengo won the group stage on goal difference with Central Cordoba for Santiago del Estero, and the quarter-finals on penalties against Estudiantes, and endured a siege by Racing for more than half an hour in the semi-finals. Something similar happened with Palmeiras. It was even better than a thumb kick. The owner of the ball and the field, with dominant control from the first minute. It was lost after the discussion that followed this action. He regained his tone a little when he returned from the locker room and steadfastly withstood the aerial bombardment of his opponent in the round of 15 to maintain a 1-0 lead.
The verdau, on the other hand, was almost nothing. The fact that Agustín Rossi only had to dedicate himself to picking up positionsBut he did not interfere with any shot between the three sticks, which clearly shows the performance of the Sao Paulo players. Sometimes, Vitor Rock’s unstoppable momentum had no company. Neither Flaco Lopez, nor Andreas Pereira, nor Allan, nor Rafael Vega were combined with the referee to worry the former Boca, and only the core of Gustavo Gomez (the best on the field, in defense and attack) was able to unnerve Cariocas.
No matter how hard CONMEBOL tries, Libertadores will never be champions. Unfortunately, purists will say; Fortunately, those who celebrate determination and raw passion will respond. The Flamengo lifted this year, and it’s too good to be so. Since he had the football chops and gritted teeth needed to be the best on this continent, where he was a champion, it wasn’t enough to just play well.