# 1978 Copa Libertadores finals

The 1978 Copa Libertadores finals was the final two-legged tie to determine the 1978 Copa Libertadores champion. It was contested by Argentine club Boca Juniors (which had entered directly to semifinals as 1977 champion) and Colombian club Deportivo Cali. The first leg of the tie was played on November 23 at Deportivo Cali' home field, with the second leg played on November 28 at Boca Juniors'. It was Deportivo Cali's 1st Copa Libertadores finals and the 3rd finals for Boca Juniors.
Boca Juniors won the series after winning the second leg tie 4-0 at Buenos Aires's La Bombonera and accumulated more points than their opponent.

## Qualified teams

| Team | Previous finals app. |
| Deportivo Cali | None |
| Boca Juniors | 1963, 1977 |
Bold indicates winning years

## Rules

The finals will be played over two legs; home and away. The team that accumulates the most points —two for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss— after the two legs will be crowned the champion. If the two teams are tied on points after the second leg, a playoff in a neutral venue will become the next tie-breaker. Goal difference is going to be used as a last resort.

## Road to the final

* Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
| Deportivo Cali | Deportivo Cali | Deportivo Cali | Deportivo Cali | Round | Boca Juniors | Boca Juniors | Boca Juniors | Boca Juniors |
| Opponent | Result | Result | Result | Group stage | Opponent | Result | Result | Result |
| Junior | 0–0 (A) | 0–0 (A) | 0–0 (A) | Matchday 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Peñarol | 1–0 (H) | 1–0 (H) | 1–0 (H) | Matchday 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Danubio | 2–0 (H) | 2–0 (H) | 2–0 (H) | Matchday 3 | – | – | – | – |
| Junior | 0–0 (H) | 0–0 (H) | 0–0 (H) | Matchday 4 | – | – | – | – |
| Peñarol | 2–0 (A) | 2–0 (A) | 2–0 (A) | Matchday 5 | – | – | – | – |
| Danubio | 3–0 (A) | 3–0 (A) | 3–0 (A) | Matchday 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Group 4 winners Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Deportivo Cali 6 3 2 1 10 3 +7 8 Peñarol 6 3 0 3 6 5 +1 6 Junior 6 1 4 1 4 5 −1 6 Danubio 6 1 2 3 2 9 −7 4 Source: RSSSF | Group 4 winners Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Deportivo Cali 6 3 2 1 10 3 +7 8 Peñarol 6 3 0 3 6 5 +1 6 Junior 6 1 4 1 4 5 −1 6 Danubio 6 1 2 3 2 9 −7 4 Source: RSSSF | Group 4 winners Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Deportivo Cali 6 3 2 1 10 3 +7 8 Peñarol 6 3 0 3 6 5 +1 6 Junior 6 1 4 1 4 5 −1 6 Danubio 6 1 2 3 2 9 −7 4 Source: RSSSF | Group 4 winners Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Deportivo Cali 6 3 2 1 10 3 +7 8 Peñarol 6 3 0 3 6 5 +1 6 Junior 6 1 4 1 4 5 −1 6 Danubio 6 1 2 3 2 9 −7 4 Source: RSSSF | Final standings | As current champions, Boca Juniors started to compete directly in semifinals | As current champions, Boca Juniors started to compete directly in semifinals | As current champions, Boca Juniors started to compete directly in semifinals | As current champions, Boca Juniors started to compete directly in semifinals |
| Opponent | Result | Result | Result | Semifinals | Opponent | Result | Result | Result |
| Cerro Porteño | 1–1 (H) | 1–1 (H) | 1–1 (H) | Matchday 1 | River Plate | 0–0 (H) | 0–0 (H) | 0–0 (H) |
| Alianza Lima | 3–2 (H) | 3–2 (H) | 3–2 (H) | Matchday 1 | Atlético Mineiro | 2–1 (A) | 2–1 (A) | 2–1 (A) |
| Alianza Lima | 4–1 (A) | 4–1 (A) | 4–1 (A) | Matchday 3 | Atlético Mineiro | 3–1 (H) | 3–1 (H) | 3–1 (H) |
| Cerro Porteño | 4–0 (A) | 4–0 (A) | 4–0 (A) | Matchday 4 | River Plate | 2–0 (A) | 2–0 (A) | 2–0 (A) |
| Group B Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Deportivo Cali 4 3 1 0 12 4 +8 7 Cerro Porteño 4 1 1 2 4 9 −5 3 Alianza Lima 4 1 0 3 7 10 −3 2 Source: RSSSF | Group B Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Deportivo Cali 4 3 1 0 12 4 +8 7 Cerro Porteño 4 1 1 2 4 9 −5 3 Alianza Lima 4 1 0 3 7 10 −3 2 Source: RSSSF | Group B Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Deportivo Cali 4 3 1 0 12 4 +8 7 Cerro Porteño 4 1 1 2 4 9 −5 3 Alianza Lima 4 1 0 3 7 10 −3 2 Source: RSSSF | Group B Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Deportivo Cali 4 3 1 0 12 4 +8 7 Cerro Porteño 4 1 1 2 4 9 −5 3 Alianza Lima 4 1 0 3 7 10 −3 2 Source: RSSSF | Final standings | Group A Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Boca Juniors 4 3 1 0 7 2 +5 7 River Plate 4 1 1 2 1 3 −2 3 Atlético Mineiro 4 1 0 3 3 6 −3 2 Source: RSSSF | Group A Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Boca Juniors 4 3 1 0 7 2 +5 7 River Plate 4 1 1 2 1 3 −2 3 Atlético Mineiro 4 1 0 3 3 6 −3 2 Source: RSSSF | Group A Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Boca Juniors 4 3 1 0 7 2 +5 7 River Plate 4 1 1 2 1 3 −2 3 Atlético Mineiro 4 1 0 3 3 6 −3 2 Source: RSSSF | Group A Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Boca Juniors 4 3 1 0 7 2 +5 7 River Plate 4 1 1 2 1 3 −2 3 Atlético Mineiro 4 1 0 3 3 6 −3 2 Source: RSSSF |

## Match details
### First leg

| Deportivo Cali | Boca Juniors |
| GK | 1 | Pedro Zape |
| DF | | William Ospina |
| DF | 3 | Fernando Castro | 57' |
| DF | | Henry Caicedo |
| DF | | Miguel Escobar (c) |
| MF | | César Valverde |
| MF | | Rafael Otero | 68' |
| MF | | Angel Landucci |
| FW | | Hector Achilli |
| FW | | José Fernández |
| FW | | Angel Torres |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | | Heriberto Correa | 57' |
| MF | | Héctor Jaramilo | 68' |
| Manager: ||
| Carlos Bilardo ||
| GK | 24 | Carlos Rodríguez |
| DF | 4 | Vicente Pernía |
| DF | 2 | Francisco Sá |
| DF | 6 | Roberto Mouzo |
| DF | 3 | Miguel Bordón |
| MF | 8 | Jorge Benítez |
| MF | 5 | Rubén Suñé (c) |
| MF | 18 | Mario Zanabria |
| FW | 7 | Ernesto Mastrángelo |
| FW | 17 | Carlos H. Salinas |
| FW | 22 | Hugo Perotti |
| Manager: ||
| Juan Carlos Lorenzo ||

### Second leg

| Boca Juniors | Deportivo Cali |
| GK | 1 | Hugo Gatti |
| DF | 4 | Vicente Pernía |
| DF | 2 | Francisco Sá |
| DF | 6 | Roberto Mouzo |
| DF | 3 | Miguel Bordón |
| MF | 8 | Jorge Benítez | 89' |
| MF | 5 | Rubén Suñé (c) |
| MF | 18 | Mario Zanabria |
| FW | 7 | Ernesto Mastrángelo |
| FW | 17 | Carlos H. Salinas |
| FW | 22 | Hugo Perotti |
| Substitutes: ||
| FW | 9 | Carlos Veglio | 89' |
| Manager: ||
| Juan Carlos Lorenzo ||
| GK | 1 | Pedro Zape |
| DF | | William Ospina | 52' |
| DF | 3 | Miguel Escobar (c) |
| DF | | Henry Caicedo |
| DF | | Heriberto Correa |
| MF | | César Valverde |
| MF | | Rafael Otero | 46' |
| MF | | Angel Landucci |
| FW | | Néstor Scotta |
| FW | | Alberto J. Benítez |
| FW | | Ángel Torres |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | | Diego Umaña | 46' |
| DF | | Fernando Castro | 52' 89' |
| Manager: ||
| Carlos Bilardo ||