What: Copa Libertadores Final
Where: Monumental Stadium, Lima in Peru
When: Saturday, November 29 at 4pm (21:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 18:00 GMT, before our text commentary stream.
Brazil’s recent dominance in the Copa Libertadores continues on Saturday when a team from the South American nation will lift the continental trophy for the eighth time in the last nine years.
Flamengo leads Palmeiras by five points in Brazil’s Serie A in the current season, while both teams finished second and third behind Botafogo last season.
Meanwhile, the continent’s showpiece trophy is up for grabs in the Peruvian capital Lima, and perhaps with it, bragging rights for the winner, no matter who comes out on top in the domestic league.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at Saturday’s final between two of the biggest names in the global club game outside European football.
Who are the current Copa Libertadores holders?
Botafogo completed the double with the Brazilian Serie A title last season, while also lifting the Copa Libertadores trophy.
This was Botafogo’s first appearance in the final, and they secured victory with a 3–1 victory against Atlético Mineiro in the match held in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
How did Palmeiras reach the Copa Libertadores final?
Rafael Veiga scored twice, and Palmeiras overturned a 3–0 defeat in the first leg with a 4–0 win over Ecuador’s Liga Deportiva in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals.
After first-half goals from Ramon Sosa and Bruno Fuchs, midfielder Veiga scored in the 68th and 82nd minutes.
Abel Ferreira’s team won all six of their group stage matches, while defeating Argentina’s River Plate in the quarter-finals.
How did Flamengo reach the Copa Libertadores final?
Flamengo reached the Copa Libertadores final after surviving a scoreless draw against Argentine side Racing Club in the second leg of their semi-final.
Despite playing with 10 players for most of the second half following Gonzalo Plata’s dismissal in the 56th minute, the Brazilian club managed to retain their 1–0 lead from the first leg.
Flamengo finished second in their group with three wins and one loss from six matches and needed a penalty to defeat Argentina’s Estudiantes in the quarter-finals.
What is Palmeiras’ record in the Copa Libertadores?
Palmarias are three-time winners, with their first win coming in 1999. Their second win came in 2020, with their third title coming the following season – when they defeated Flamengo in the final.
What is Flamengo’s record in the Copa Libertadores?
Flamengo will also be aiming to win the prestigious South American tournament for the fourth time, having previously claimed victory in 1981, 2019 and 2022.
How dominant is Brazil in the Copa Libertadores?
This is the eighth title in the last nine editions of the tournament that Brazilian teams will compete for.
Brazilian teams have won every Copa Libertadores title since 2019, with Saturday’s finalists having won two each in that period.
What happened the last time Palmeiras played Flamengo?
Flamengo were 3–2 winners against their nearest rivals for the Serie A title in Brazil in October. They also scored in a 2–0 win at Palmeiras at the start of the campaign in what now appears to be the first match of a decisive league double as the domestic season concludes.
Is there a possibility of trouble in the Copa Libertadores final?
Rio de Janeiro police officers and football fans clashed near the city’s international airport on Wednesday as the Flamengo team prepared to travel to Peru to face Palmeiras.
Local media reported that about a dozen fans entered the Flamengo bus through the roof while thousands of people were cheering outside. Footage showed officers using tear gas and rubber bullets amid clashes, while some fans retaliated.
Flamengo midfielder Saul Niguez joked about the incident on his social media channels, showing fans entering the bus from above.
“We have some new signings,” the former Atletico Madrid player wrote.
The Brazilian club did not comment on the incident. Authorities also did not comment on the injuries or arrests.
head to head
This is the 48th meeting between the two sides, with Flamengo claiming 16 wins and Palmeiras losing on 15 occasions.
palmeras team news
Figueiredo has been sidelined after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in March.
Lucas Evangelista is out with a thigh problem, while former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho is out with a calf injury.
Weverton’s broken hand means the goalkeeper remains a heavy doubt, but his return to form has not been completely ruled out after a recent return to light training.
flamengo team news
Gonzalo Plata was suspended due to a red card in the semi-final against Racing Club. Pedro is out with a thigh injury.
Henrique scored a late equalizer after coming on as a substitute in the recent league match against Atletico Mineiro and is pushing for a start.
Palmeiras predicted starting lineup
Lomba; Khelven, Gomez, Cerquera, Piquerez; Allen, Moreno; Pereira, Lopez, Anderson; Stoppage
Flamengo predicted starting lineup
Rossi; Sandro, Pereira, Danilo, Varela; Jorginho, Pulgar; de Arrascaeta, Carrascal, Araujo; Heinrich
<a href