Centenário has already been the scene of a Flamengo party and a disappointment at Palmeiras

Palmeiras decides the Libertadores title to break a bad story at the Centenario Stadium. Flamengo, on the other hand, can be champions in the place called the “temple of world football” for the second time.

The two teams make, in a single game, the decision of the continental tournament this Saturday (27), at 17:00, in Montevideo.

The confrontation will be broadcast by SBT, on open TV, and by FOX Sports, on closed. On the internet, it will be possible to watch the game on ESPN through the Star+ streaming service and on Conmebol TV.

“We weren’t ready. The team had changed a lot and there were embezzlements. We didn’t play well that day,” defines historic midfielder Ademir da Guia, the main star from Palma in the 1968 Libertadores final against Estudiantes (ARG).

After losing at La Plata and winning at Pacaembu, the tiebreaker was scheduled for Montevideo on May 16 of that year. The Brazilians were defeated 2-0. It was the first of four continental titles for the Argentine club.

That Estudiantes, commanded by coach Osvaldo Zubeldía, had as his greatest offensive reference Juan Román Verón, father of midfielder Juan Sebastián Verón. Carlos Bilardo was in midfield. As a coach, Bilardo would lead Argentina to the 1986 world title and the 1990 runner-up.

It was a team with a game quite different from Palmeiras, for having a pragmatic view of football. The alviverde team was in the transition from the First to the Second Academy, two of the greatest squads in the association’s history.

“They even said that our team played with pins to stick opponents, which was a lie. That never happened,” said Bilardo.

It was a different final from the one played by Flamengo, champion at the stadium in 1981. Against Cobreloa (CHI), the rubro-negra team won 2-1 in Maracanã and lost 1-0 in Santiago. The tiebreaker was set for the Centenary, and the Brazilians were champions when they managed to win 2-0.

“It ended up being the coronation of that Flamengo who won everything. Our team was much better than the Chilean one. They used a lot of violence”, remembers Zico, the most important name in that decision. The attacking midfielder scored the Gávea club’s four goals in three games.

From 1980 to 1983, the Carioca association would still win three Brazilian Championships, one Libertadores and one Mundial.

The main Flamengo complaint was against Chilean defender Mario Soto. Players said he used a sharp ring to hit opponents. At the National Stadium in Santiago, he opened the minds of Lico and Adílio that way. In the final minutes in Montevideo, with the advantage on the scoreboard and the trophy close by, one of the most unusual stories of the rubro-negro club happened: Anselmo’s entry just to punch Soto.

“It was a thing of the [técnico Paulo César] Carpegiani. He was unhappy with what had happened in Santiago. I didn’t approve, but it happened,” adds Zico.

Anselmo took his rival out of the game, was expelled and escorted by the police.

In 1961, Palmeiras had already played a Libertadores final game in Centenário. But it was the first confrontation. They lost to Peñarol by 1-0. The title match took place at Pacaembu, and the Uruguayans were champions when they drew 1-1.

The alviverde team made a strategic error seven years later. Conmebol consulted the board of directors of the Brazilian club regarding the place of the tiebreaker. The alternatives were Santiago and Montevideo. The latter was chosen, a city much closer to La Plata’s fans than to the São Paulo fans. There were many more Argentines in the stadium.

When the 2019 decision was taken out of Chile because of popular protests, the confederation put some alternatives on the table. One of them was Montevideo. Flamengo vetoed the idea and later would be champion over River Plate in Lima, Peru.