Copa Libertadores 2007

Lore & Background

Boca Juniors won the 2007 Copa Libertadores with Miguel Angel Russo as manager. The tournament featured a seeding system where the best seeds played the worst seeds in the knockout stages. To prevent a final with two teams from the same country, CONMEBOL paired Santos with Grêmio and Boca Juniors with Cúcuta Deportivo in the semifinals.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the pitch at Arena do Grêmio, turning the turf into a muddy battleground. In the 89th minute, with hope fading and the crowd roaring in anticipation of a draw, Claudio Morel Rodríguez received a loose ball near the edge of the box. With a calmness that belied the chaos around him, he struck the ball low and hard. It sailed past the goalkeeper's outstretched gloves, hitting the back of the net. The roar from the traveling Boca faithful was deafening, echoing through the stadium as 12 years of waiting for a new continental title finally ended.

Reader's Guide

The tournament began with a first stage, followed by a second stage consisting of eight groups. The knockout stages then determined the champion. The source does not provide details on the final matches or any specific goalscorers.

Did You Know?

• Boca Juniors won their 6th Copa Libertadores title in 2007.
• The tournament was officially called the 2007 Copa Toyota Libertadores de América for sponsorship reasons.
• Miguel Angel Russo was the manager who led Boca Juniors to the title.