# 1961 Copa Libertadores

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.

## Qualified teams

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

## Format

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.

## Tournament bracket

| Preliminary round | Preliminary round | Preliminary round | Preliminary round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Finals | Finals | 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 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Santa Fe | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Santa Fe | 3 | 2 | 5 | Santa Fe | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Jorge Wilstermann | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |

## Preliminary round

| 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 |

## First round
### 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 |
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 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 |

### 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 |
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.

## Semifinals

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 |

### 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 |

## Finals

| 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 |

## Champion

* Copa Libertadores de América 1961 Winner
* Peñarol Second Title

## Top goalscorers

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