Talking Tactics: Where all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores final will be won and lost

For the second year running, the Copa Libertadores final is an all-Brazilian affair — as holders Palmeiras meet 2019 winners Flamengo at the iconic Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

One of the biggest games in world football will see both sides bid to be crowned champions of South America for the third time in their respective histories.

Ahead of tonight’s game — which you can watch for FREE on the LiveScore app — we take a closer look at where the showdown will be won and lost.

Familiar foes

With 17 domestic top-flight titles between them — of which Palmeiras have won a record 10 — these are two of the biggest clubs in Brazilian football. So, naturally, they know each other pretty well.

Flamengo have come out on top in both domestic meetings this season and sit second in the Brasileiro table, eight points better off than Palmeiras in third.

Palmeiras hardly need any added motivation ahead of tonight.

They come into the final having lost three of their last four matches — in stark contrast to Flamengo who are unbeaten in nine.

Flamengo’s forward force

With 10 goals so far at a rate of 0.87 per 90 minutes, former Inter Milan flop Gabriel Barbosa is the Copa Libertadores’ top scorer this season and the man Palmeiras will need to stop.

Better known as ‘Gabigol’, the Brazilian international came up big for Flamengo with a brace in both legs of their quarter-final win over Paraguayan side Olimpia.

If Flamengo’s No9 is not scoring, he is creating. The 25-year-old has also provided the joint-most assists in the competition (five), along with teammate Giorgian De Arrascaeta.

Gabigol has history in the Libertadores final too. In 2019, his dramatic late brace secured Flamengo’s first continental crown for 38 years as they saw off River Plate 2-1.

However, his time in Europe was not a success. Signed from Santos for £26.5million in August 2016, he returned on loan 18 months later having made just 10 appearances for Inter.

Prolific ever since, he has been clinical in front of goal for Santos and Flamengo on his return to South America.

Rocket Rony

From one Barbosa to another — although Ronielson da Silva Barbosa has his customary Brazilian mononym, Rony.

Palmeiras’ leading Libertadores marksman may only have scored six goals to Gabigol’s 10 — but he has found the net only fractionally less frequently (0.83 goals per 90 minutes).

That said, Rony has not scored since the group stage where braces against Independiente del Valle, Defensa y Justicia and Universitario sent Palmeiras through as Group A winners.

Rony, 26, has spent his entire career in Brazil bar a season with Japanese side Albirex Niigata in 2017-18.

At 5ft 5.5in, the diminutive forward uses his pace, trickery and dribbling to cause opposition defences problems.

No way past Weverton

Palmeiras have conceded just twice in six knockout matches, keeping four clean sheets in the process.

While that record points to the strength of the defensive unit as a whole, those clean sheets will ultimately be attributed to the man with the gloves, experienced custodian Weverton.

The 33-year-old featured for Brazil at this summer’s Copa America and was named in the 2020 Libertadores Team of the Tournament.

With Alisson and Ederson ahead of him, Selecao caps are hard to come by for Weverton who also won Olympic gold in 2016.

Only Atletico Mineiro have kept more clean sheets (eight) than Palmeiras (seven) in the 2021 Libertadores overall.

Keep your hair on!

Flamengo have been issued with a tournament-high 34 yellow cards at a relatively high average of almost three per game.

Notably, Renato Gaucho’s side have received a booking for arguing with the officials in five out of six knockout games.

The Libertadores is a competition in which tensions regularly escalate to boiling point and Palmeiras may sense an opportunity in their opponents’ apparent lack of discipline.

To that end, the experience of former Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz should come in handy for Flamengo.

The 34-year-old returned to his homeland this summer after more than a decade in Europe and has twice featured in this year’s Copa Libertadores.

He is not the only big name in Flamengo's ranks either. Former team-mate Kenedy and fellow ex-Blue Filipe Luis are also with the Rubro-Negro while Manchester United's Andreas Pereira is on loan.

One-time wonderkid Diego, now 36, is on the books as well after struggles in Europe, while ex-Juventus full-back Mauricio Isla and former Valencia keeper Diego Alves add plenty of experience. 

Expect fireworks.