1963 Copa Libertadores


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The 1963 Copa de Campeones de América was the fourth season of South America's premier club football tournament. Nine teams entered with Bolivia and Venezuela not sending a representative.

1963 Copa de Campeones de América
Tournament details
DatesApril 7 – September 11
Teams9 (from 8 confederations)
Final positions
ChampionsBrazil Santos (2nd title)
Runners-upArgentina Boca Juniors
Tournament statistics
Matches played19
Goals scored63 (3.32 per match)
Top scorer(s)Argentina José Sanfilippo (7 goals)

← 1962

1964 →

This competition was notable for the participation of many world class stars such as José Sanfilippo, Pelé, Garrincha, Antonio Rattín, Alberto Spencer and Jairzinho, among others. The Alvinegro da Vila, usually regarded as the greatest football club team ever, defeated their semifinal and final opponents in stylish fashion which included a 4–0 victory over Botafogo in the fabled Estádio do Maracanã, and a 2–1 win in La Bombonera, home of Boca Juniors. In a classic South American match-up, defending champions Santos defeated the Xeneixes on both legs of the final to retain the title.

Country Team Qualification method
CONMEBOL
1 berth 		Santos 1962 Copa de Campeones winners
  Argentina
1 berth 		Boca Juniors 1962 Primera División champion
  Brazil
1 berth 		Botafogo 1962 Taça Brasil runner-up
  Chile
1 berth 		Universidad de Chile 1962 Primera División champion
  Colombia
1 berth 		Millonarios 1962 Campeonato Profesional champion
  Ecuador
1 berth 		Everest 1962 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol champion
  Paraguay
1 berth 		Olimpia 1962 Primera División champion
  Peru
1 berth 		Alianza Lima 1962 Primera División champion
  Uruguay
1 berth 		Peñarol 1962 Primera División champion

Format and tie-breaking criteria

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Due to the uneven number of teams, the first round became a group stage with two groups of three and one group of two. The format for the semifinals and the finals remained the same as the previous season.

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.

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

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Botafogo 4 4 0 0 5 1 +4 8
  Alianza Lima 4 1 1 2 2 3 −1 3
  Millonarios 4 0 1 3 0 3 −3 1
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Peñarol 2 2 0 0 14 1 +13 4
  Everest 2 0 0 2 1 14 −13 0
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Boca Juniors 4 3 0 1 9 6 +3 6
  Olimpia 4 2 0 2 7 10 −3 4
  Universidad de Chile 4 1 0 3 7 7 0 2
Semi-finals Final
        
  Peñarol 1 0 1
  Boca Juniors 2 1 3
  Boca Juniors 2 1 3
  Santos 3 2 5
  Santos 1 4 5
  Botafogo 1 0 1

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.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Boca Juniors 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2 4
  Peñarol 2 0 0 2 1 3 −2 0
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Santos 2 1 1 0 5 1 +4 3
  Botafogo 2 0 1 1 1 5 −4 1
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Santos 2 2 0 0 5 3 +2 4
  Boca Juniors 2 0 0 2 3 5 −2 0
Copa Libertadores de América
1963 Champion
 
Santos
Second Title
Pos Player Team Goals
1   José Sanfilippo   Boca Juniors 7
2   Pelé   Santos 5
  Alberto Spencer   Peñarol 5
4   Paulo Valentim   Boca Juniors 4
5   Coutinho   Santos 3
  José Francisco Sasía   Peñarol 3
A. ^ Not played after Millonarios (already eliminated) preferred paying a fine of USD 4,500 rather than traveling to Rio for the match; points awarded to Botafogo but no goals.