Flamengo And Chapecoense Miss Out

Big two nations dominate group stage of South America’s premier club competition

- Tim Vickery

The re-organisation of this year’s Libertadores Cup opened up extra slots for Brazilian and Argentinian sides – and the effects were clear from the group phase, played between the start of March and the end of May.

All eight groups were topped by teams from the continent’s big two: Atletico Mineiro, Santos, Palmeiras, Gremio and Botafogo from Brazil, and an Argentinian trio of River Plate, Lanus and San Lorenzo.

All of which makes it even more astonishing that Flamengo failed to reach the last 16, after the Rio club had invested heavily and were among the tournament favourites.

After recent frustrations in the competition, the club’s fans were convinced that this would be their year. And they went home happy from their three home games, all of which were won. But Flamengo lost all their away fixtures, in part because a slow defensive unit tended to retreat too much, which allowed opponents to apply pressure.

Even so, Flamengo looked safe going into the final 20 minutes of their last group game. They led away at San Lorenzo, while fellow Brazilians Atletico Paranaense were losing in Chile to Universidad Catolica. In order for Flamengo to be eliminated, both score lines would have to be overturned – and that is exactly what happened.