Palmeiras 0-1 Flamengo
Flamengo goal: Danilo (67)
Danilo was the hero as Flamengo edged Palmeiras to lift the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and qualify for next month’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025™.
The Mengão, like Palmeiras, impressed at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, and will now battle for another global crown. They will face Mexican outfit Cruz Azul on 10 December in the Derby of the Americas, with the winners taking on African champions Pyramids in the Challenger Cup. The victors in that bout will then meet Paris Saint-Germain in the Intercontinental Cup final.
Last season’s Libertadores decider needed just two minutes to alight as Gregore was sent off for Botafogo. This year’s showpiece started less ferociously, however, and took a quarter of an hour to produce the first sight of goal. Guillermo Varela came inside and fed Bruno Henrique down the right, but the Flamengo forward’s shot was wayward.
Flamengo started the second half well and were rewarded for their fast start shortly after the hour. Giorgian de Arrascaeta swung in a corner from the right which was met by a crashing header from Danilo, with the ball flying in off the post.
Palmeiras turned up the pressure from there and should have levelled in the final moments. Gustavo Gomez headed down a dinked ball to the back post to Vitor Roque, but the red-hot frontman lashed his effort over the bar from six yards out.
