It may have been a disappointing World Cup year for the world’s greatest soccer power, but Brazil is again dominating the Libertadores Cup.
Last year, in the first final that featured two teams from the same nation since the competition’s inception in 1960, Sao Paulo beat Atletico Paranaense. Sao Paulo is back for its sixth final appearance and hopes to lift its fourth crown when it faces Internacional of Porto Alegre in the second straight all-Brazil final. (First leg, Wednesday, live FOX Sports en Espanol, Wednesday, 8:30pm ET/5:30pm.)
Internacional has made one previous final appearance, losing in 1980 to Uruguay’s Nacional.
Brazilian clubs have won 12 of the previous 46 Libertadores Cups, trailing Argentina’s 20 titles. Uruguayan clubs have won 8, followed by Paraguay (3), Colombia (2) and Chile (1).
Left-footed Danilo is Sao Paulo’s playmaker and has a lethal shot. Aloisio, who last year played for the Atletico Paranaense team that Sao Paulo beat in the final, has scored five goals in Sao Paulo’s final run.
For Internacional, the Brazilian Iarley, who reached a Libertadores Cup final with Boca Juniors in 2004, pulls strings in midfield. Flamboyant fan favorite Wason Renteria, a 21-year-old Colombian, and Fernandao, lead their team in scoring with four goals apiece, although Renteria is not a regular starter.
Last year, Sao Paulo coach Muricy Ramalho was at Internacional’s helm when it qualified for the tournament. “From the outset of the Copa, I said that I wanted both teams to get to the final,” he says.
Refereeing Wednesday’s first-leg match is Uruguayan Jorge Larrionda, who red-carded three players in the USA’s 1-1 tie with Italy at the 2006 World Cup.