1961 Copa Libertadores

1961 Copa de Campeones de América

Tournament details
Dates	April 2 - June 11
Teams	9 (from 9 confederations)
Final positions
Champions	Peñarol (2nd title)
Runners-up	Palmeiras
Tournament statistics
Matches played	16
Goals scored	52 (3.25 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Osvaldo Panzutto (4 goals)
← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Copa de Campeones de América was the second season of the competition, South America's prized football tournament. Nine teams entered, two more than the previous season, with Venezuela not sending a representative. In order to further enhance the competition, CONMEBOL maintained the criteria of having regional clashes in order to take advantage of the cross-border rivalries

Although Peñarol also won their national league, this became the first and, so far, only time the defending champions did not qualify automatically to the next edition. Nevertheless, the Manyas successfully defended their title by defeating Palmeiras in the final.

Country	Team	Qualification method	App	Last	Previous Best
Argentina 1 berth	Independiente	1960 Primera División champion	first
Bolivia 1 berth	Jorge Wilstermann	1960 Copa Simón Bolívar champion	2nd	1960	preliminary round
Brazil 1 berth	Palmeiras	1960 Taça Brasil champion	first
Chile 1 berth	Colo-Colo	1960 Primera División champion	first
Colombia 1 berth	Santa Fe	1960 Campeonato Profesional champion	first
Ecuador 1 berth	Barcelona	1960 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol champion	first
Paraguay 1 berth	Olimpia	1960 Primera División champion	2nd	1960	runner-up
Peru 1 berth	Universitario	1960 Primera División champion	first
Uruguay 1 berth	Peñarol	1960 Primera División champion	2nd	1960	champion

Each match-up was a two-team group stage. Because of the increase in participants, a preliminary group was implemented in the competition, with the rest following the previous season's format. Wins were awarded two points, 1 point for a draw, and no points for a loss. The team with the most points after a home and away game advanced to the next stage.

If the teams still remained tied, goal difference became a factor. A one-game playoff would be implemented in case the teams were still tied. A draw of lots was to become the last solution to breaking a tie. Controversially, Independiente Santa Fe and Jorge Wilstermann tied on points which would have required a playoff; CONMEBOL, however, scrapped the idea and decided that the last semifinal slot was to be given by a draw of lots which the Colombians won.

	Preliminary round						First round						Semi-finals						Finals
							Olimpia	5	1	6
							Colo-Colo	2	2	4
													Olimpia	1	1	2
													Peñarol	3	2	5
							Universitario	0	2	2
							Peñarol	5	0	5
																			Peñarol	1	1	2
																			Palmeiras	0	1	1
							Palmeiras	2	1	3
							Independiente	0	0	0
													Palmeiras	2	4	6
													Santa Fe	2	1	3
	Barcelona	0	2	2
	Santa Fe	3	2	5
							Santa Fe	2	1	3
							Jorge Wilstermann	3	0	3

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Santa Fe	2	1	1	0	5	2	+3	3
Barcelona	2	0	1	1	2	5	−3	1

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Olimpia	2	1	0	1	6	4	+2	2
Colo-Colo	2	1	0	1	4	6	−2	2

Olimpia drew 2–2 with Colo-Colo on point aggregate. Olimpia progressed to the semifinals due to better goal difference.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Peñarol	2	1	0	1	5	2	+3	2
Universitario	2	1	0	1	2	5	−3	2

Peñarol drew 2–2 with Universitario on point aggregate. Peñarol progressed to the semifinals due to better goal difference.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Palmeiras	2	2	0	0	3	0	+3	4
Independiente	2	0	0	2	0	3	−3	0

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Santa Fe	2	1	0	1	3	3	0	2
Jorge Wilstermann	2	1	0	1	3	3	0	2

Independiente Santa Fe drew 2–2 with Jorge Wilstermann on point aggregate and goal difference. No playoff was disputed to determine the winner. Independiente Santa Fe progressed to the semifinals after a draw of lots.

Four teams were drawn into two groups of two teams each. In each group, teams played against each other home and away. The top team in each group advanced to the Finals.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Palmeiras	2	1	1	0	6	3	+3	3
Santa Fe	2	0	1	1	3	6	−3	1

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Peñarol	2	2	0	0	5	2	+3	4
Olimpia	2	0	0	2	2	5	−3	0

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Peñarol	2	1	1	0	2	1	+1	3
Palmeiras	2	0	1	1	1	2	−1	1

Copa Libertadores de América 1961 Winner
Peñarol Second Title

Pos	Player	Team	Goals
1	Osvaldo Panzutto	Santa Fe	4
2	Alberto Perazzo	Santa Fe	3
	Benicio Ferreira	Olimpia	3
	Juan Joya	Peñarol	3
	Jose Francisco Sasía	Peñarol	3
	Alberto Spencer	Peñarol	3

• 1961 Copa Libertadores at RSSSF