1961 Copa Libertadores

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

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)
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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.

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 will become a factor. A one-game playoff would be implemented in case the teams are 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.

Group 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

Colo-Colo   v   Olimpia

April 9, 1961	Colo-Colo	2 – 5	Olimpia	Estadio Nacional, Santiago
	Hormazabal   45' Toro   88'		González   12' Cabral   37', 79' Ferreira   48', 54'	Attendance: 17,780 Referee: Esteban Marino (Uruguay)

Olimpia   v   Colo-Colo

April 16, 1961	Olimpia	1 – 2	Colo-Colo	Estadio Manuel Ferreira, Asunción
	González   1'		Hormazabal   29' Álvarez   67'	Attendance: ≈35,000 Referee: Pablo Victor Vaga (Uruguay)

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

Group 2

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   v   Universitario

April 19, 1961	Peñarol	5 – 0	Universitario	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
	Joya   36', 63' Spencer   44', 77' Sasía   85'			Attendance: 57,630 Referee: Carlos Robles (Chile)

Universitario   v   Peñarol

April 30, 1961	Universitario	2 – 0	Peñarol	Estadio Nacional, Lima
	Uribe   30' Iwasaki   37'			Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Carlos Robles (Chile)

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

Group 3

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

Independiente   v   Palmeiras

May 4, 1961	Independiente	0 – 2	Palmeiras	Estadio Juan Domingo Perón, Avellaneda
			Gildo   33' Zequinha   85'	Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Jose Dimas Larrosa (Paraguay)

Palmeiras   v   Independiente

May 11, 1961	Palmeiras	1 – 0	Independiente	Estádio do Pacaembu, São Paulo
	Scotto   40'			Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Jose Dimas Larrosa (Paraguay)

Group 4

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

Jorge Wilstermann   v   Santa Fe

April 30, 1961	Jorge Wilstermann	3 – 2	Santa Fe	Estadio Félix Capriles, Cochabamba
	López   8', 76' Sanchez   17'		Panzutto   13' Castro   86'	Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Carlos Robles (Chile)

Santa Fe   v   Jorge Wilstermann

May 7, 1961	Santa Fe	1 – 0	Jorge Wilstermann	Estadio El Campín, Bogotá
	Claure   26' (o.g.)			Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Luis Ventre (Argentina)

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.

Group A

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

Santa Fe   v   Palmeiras

May 21, 1961	Santa Fe	2 – 2	Palmeiras	Estadio El Campín, Bogotá
	Perazzo   8' Castro   52'		Gildo   7' Chinesinho   39'	Attendance: 35,000 Referee: João Etzel Filho (Brazil)

Palmeiras   v   Santa Fe

May 28, 1961	Palmeiras	4 – 1	Santa Fe	Estádio do Pacaembu, São Paulo
	Romeiro   3'  22' Tozzi   44'  57'		Mottura   66'	Attendance: 60,000 Referee: Ovidio Orrego (Colombia)

Group B

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

Peñarol   v   Olimpia

May 21, 1961	Peñarol	3 – 1	Olimpia	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
	Joya   20' Cubilla   73' Cano   87'		González   50'	Attendance: 42,000 Referee: Carlos Nai Foino (Argentina)

Olimpia   v   Peñarol

May 27, 1961	Olimpia	1 – 2	Peñarol	Estadio Manuel Ferreira, Asunción
	Doldán   10'		Sasía   77' (pen.) Cubilla   80'	Attendance: 15,000 Referee: José Luis Praddaude (Argentina)

• 1961 Copa Libertadores at RSSSF