- Los Millonarios knock out Boca Juniors and O Mengâo beat Gremio
- Final to be played at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile
- Winners will qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup 2019™
Defending champions River Plate will face Flamengo in the final of the 2019 Copa Libertadores, to be played as a single match at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile, on 23 November. The Argentinians saw off arch rivals Boca Juniors in the semis, while O Mengâo dispatched compatriots Gremio.
El Millonario are looking for title number five in what will be their seventh Copa final and the Brazilians only their second crown, 38 years after their one previous appearance in the final. FIFA.com rounds up the semi-final action.
Semi-final second-leg results
- Boca Juniors 1-0 River Plate (River win 2-1 on aggregate)
- Flamengo 5-0 Gremio (Flamengo win 6-1 on aggregate)
River protect first-leg advantage
Marcelo Gallardo’s side reached their third final in the last five seasons thanks mainly to their commanding performance at home in the first leg, where they took a 2-0 aggregate lead after dominating the game.
Content to sit on their lead in the return, River kept Boca at bay without too much trouble. Lacking in ideas and only occasionally posing a threat in the air, Boca scored late on to cause some alarm in the Millonarios ranks but could not avenge their defeat in last year’s final.
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River Plate players celebrate after defeating Boca Juniors 2-1 on aggregate to reach the Copa Libertadores final
23 Oct 2019
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – OCTOBER 22: Players of River Plate celebrate qualifying to the final after the Semifinal second leg match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on October 22, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)
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Boca Juniors players greet the fans during the Copa Libertadores semi-final against River Plate
23 Oct 2019
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – OCTOBER 22: Players of Boca Juniors greet the fans prior the Semifinal second leg match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on October 22, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
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Eduardo Salvio of Boca Juniors reacts during the Copa Libertadores semi-final against River Plate
23 Oct 2019
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – OCTOBER 22: Eduardo Salvio of Boca Juniors reacts during the Semifinal second leg match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on October 22, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)
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Franco Armani of River Plate fights for the ball with Ramon Abila of Boca Juniors
23 Oct 2019
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – OCTOBER 22: Franco Armani of River Plate fights for the ball with Ramon Abila of Boca Juniors during the Semifinal second leg match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on October 22, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
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Boca Juniors v River Plate – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019
23 Oct 2019
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – OCTOBER 22: Ramon Abila of Boca Juniors fights for the ball with Enzo Perez of River Plate during the Semifinal second leg match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on October 22, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
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Boca Juniors v River Plate – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019
23 Oct 2019
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – OCTOBER 22: Exequiel Palacios of River Plate reacts during the Semifinal second leg match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on October 22, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)
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Boca Juniors v River Plate – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019
23 Oct 2019
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – OCTOBER 22: Ignacio Fernandez of River Plate drives the ball as Ivan Marcone of Boca Juniors and Agustin Almendra of Boca Juniors lie injured during the Semifinal second leg match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on October 22, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)
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Fans of Boca Juniors cheer prior to the Copa Libertadores semi-final, second leg against River Plate
23 Oct 2019
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – OCTOBER 22: Fans of Boca Juniors throw paper to welcome their team prior the Semifinal second leg match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on October 22, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
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Fans of Boca Juniors cheer prior to the Copa Libertadores semi-final, second leg against River Plate
22 Oct 2019
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – OCTOBER 22: Fans of Boca Juniors cheer their team prior to the Semifinal second leg match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on October 22, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)
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Standout players
- Enzo Perez: Impressed with his vision and energy in the first leg and his discipline and work rate in the second.
- Franco Armani: A solid presence, the keeper once again excelled in a Copa tie with a string of crucial saves.
The stat
62 – River have played 62 knockout ties under Gallardo, winning 51 of them and losing 11. Their favourite rivals in that time have been Boca, whom they have beaten on all five occasions they have faced each other, with three of those ties coming in the Copa Libertadores.
Flamengo make no mistake
Jorge Jesus’s men were the better side in the first leg in Porto Alegre but had to settle for a draw after failing to convert their chances.
O Mengâo were not so charitable in the return in Rio de Janeiro, scoring four goals in the second half, two of them headers from set-pieces. Champions in 2017, Gremio suffered their worst defeat in the history of the competition.
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Pablo Mari celebrates with team-mates after scoring against Gremio
24 Oct 2019
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 23: Pablo Mari celebrates with teammates after scoring during a second leg semi-final match between Flamengo and Gremio as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Maracana Stadium on October 23, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
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Bruno Henrique of Flamengo scores against Gremio in the Copa Libertadores semi-final
24 Oct 2019
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 23: Bruno Henrique of Flamengo kicks the ball to score during a second leg semi-final match between Flamengo and Gremio as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Maracana Stadium on October 23, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alessandra del Bene/Getty Images)
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Gabriel Barbosa of Flamengo celebrates with team-mates after scoring against Gremio in the Copa Libertadores semi-final
24 Oct 2019
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 23: Gabriel Barbosa of Flamengo celebrates with teammate after scoring during a second leg semi-final match between Flamengo and Gremio as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Maracana Stadium on October 23, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
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Willian Arao of Flamengo controls the ball against Gremio
24 Oct 2019
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 23: Willian Arao of Flamengo controls the ball during a second leg semi-final match between Flamengo and Gremio as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Maracana Stadium on October 23, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
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Bruno Henrique of Flamengo scores against Gremio
24 Oct 2019
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 23: Bruno Henrique of Flamengo kicks the ball to score the opening goal during a second leg semi-final match between Flamengo and Gremio as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Maracana Stadium on October 23, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images)
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Pedro Geromel of Gremio fights for the ball with Gabriel Barbosa of Flamengo
24 Oct 2019
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 23: Pedro Geromel of Gremio fights for the ball with Gabriel Barbosa of Flamengo during a second leg semi-final match between Flamengo and Gremio as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Maracana Stadium on October 23, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images)
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Everton of Gremio fights for the ball with Paulo Marti of Flamengo
24 Oct 2019
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 23: Everton of Gremio fights for the ball with Paulo Marti of Flamengo during a second leg semi-final match between Flamengo and Gremio as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Maracana Stadium on October 23, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
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Flamengo v Gremio – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 Semi-Final 2
24 Oct 2019
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 23: Players of Gremio huddle prior to a second leg semi-final match between Flamengo and Gremio as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Maracana Stadium on October 23, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images)
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Flamengo v Gremio – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 Semi-Final 2
24 Oct 2019
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 23: Players of Flamengo and Gremio pose for a picture prior to a second leg semi-final match between Flamengo and Gremio as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Maracana Stadium on October 23, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images)
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Standout players
- Bruno Henrique: Scored in both games and proved a constant menace to the Gremio defence, creating danger every time he got on the ball.
- Gabriel Barbosa: Asked questions time and again of Gremio and came close to scoring several times in the first leg before hitting a brace in the return. Fla’s leading scorer in the competition with seven goals.
The stat
2002 – Flamengo have not lost a home Copa Libertadores match in which they have taken the lead since the group phase in 2002 (a 3-1 defeat to Universidad Catolica).