Palmeiras, Santos book the battle of Brazil

Palmeiras saw off River while Santos prevailed against Boca
The final will take place on 30 January at the Maracana
Winners will qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup

Palmeiras and Santos, the top two sides in the group stage, put paid to the hopes of River Plate and Boca Juniors in their respective semis to set up an all-Brazilian final in the Copa Libertadores 2020.

This will be the fourth time the tournament’s deciding game will be contested by two teams from the same country, and the third between Brazilian clubs. The nation last provided both finalists in 2006, when Internacional defeated Sao Paulo before going on to upset Barcelona in the Club World Cup final.

The final, which is a single game, will take place on Saturday, 30 January at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. As well as continental bragging rights, the victor will get to represent South America at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020, set to be played between 1-11 February.

Copa Libertadores: semifinals

Players of Palmeiras celebrate reaching the Final after a semifinal second leg match between Palmeiras and River Plate

Alan Empereur of Palmeiras gets in the field prior during the Libertadores semifinal

Players of Palmeiras huddle during a semifinal

uiz Adriano (R) of Palmeiras competes for the ball with Enzo Perez of River Plate

Head coach Marcelo Gallardo (C) of River Plate gestures during a semifinal

Abel Ferreira coach of Palmeiras celebrates with goalkeeper Weverton

Lucas Verissimo (L) of Santos competes for the ball with Carlos Tevez of Boca Juniors

Santos v Boca Juniors - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020 — Santos v Boca Juniors – Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020

Yeferson Soteldo of Santos celebrates after scoring the second goal of his team

Yeferson Soteldo (C) of Santos celebrates with teammates

JoÃ£o Paulo of Santos celebrates the the second goal of his team scored by teammate Yeferson Soteldo

Alexi Stival head coach of Santos celebrates the the second goal of his team

Palmeiras do it the hard way

First leg: River Plate 0-3 Palmeiras
Second leg: Palmeiras 0-2 River Plate

Despite being outplayed in the second leg in Brazil and losing their unbeaten record, Palmeiras’s resounding win in Argentina proved enough to see off Marcelo Gallardo’s impressive River side. In so doing, O Verdāo checked into their fifth Libertadores final, with their sole victory coming in 1999.

With impressive displays in both legs but especially in the second, goalkeeper Weverton was the standout figure for the Brazilian side, who again had vital contributions from Rony and Luiz Adriano (one goal apiece).

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Santos stroll into showpiece

First leg: Boca Juniors 0-0 Santos
Second leg: Santos 3-0 Boca Juniors

With a solid team performance and the firepower to capitalise at key moments in the return leg, Santos proved too strong for Boca Juniors en route to their fifth Libertadores final. Winners in 1962 and 1963 with Pele in their ranks, and in 2011 with Neymar, O Peixe will be attempting to become the first Brazilian club to win the title four times.

Displaying dynamism, speed and youthful energy, Santos never let their opponents relax across the two legs, although it was only in the return fixture that they made their superiority count. Especially impressive in Sao Paulo were their Venezuelan attacking midfielder Jefferson Soteldo and Brazilian attacker Marinho.

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