Estudiantes vs Palmeiras: The 2026 Libertadores Final Is a Rematch of 1968 — and Montevideo Has Seen It Before
Of all the finals the 2026 bracket could have produced, this one has a ghost: Estudiantes de La Plata against Palmeiras is exactly the matchup that decided the 1968 Copa Libertadores — and that title was settled at Montevideo's Estadio Centenario, the same ground that will host the final on November 28.
1968: Two Legs, One Playoff
The 1968 final between the same two clubs was level on points after two legs. Estudiantes won the first leg 2-1 at home in La Plata (Juan Ramón Verón and Eduardo Flores scoring late), but Palmeiras answered 3-1 in São Paulo, with Tupãzinho scoring twice.
A playoff was needed. It was played on May 16, 1968 at the Estadio Centenario: Estudiantes 2, Palmeiras 0, with goals from Ribaudo (13') and Verón (82'). Osvaldo Zubeldía's side took the first of what became three straight titles (1968-1970).
58 Years Later, the Same Pitch
Estudiantes reach their sixth final and the first since their 2009 title — a 17-year gap — chasing a fifth Libertadores. Palmeiras, with titles in 1999, 2020 and 2021, go for a fourth, and the Centenario is also the ground where they beat Flamengo in the 2021 final.
Uruguay Has Four Reasons to Watch
The final has a heavy Uruguayan flavor. Estudiantes goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, 40, saved three penalties in the semifinal shootout and said it will be “nice” to play the decisive match in front of his own people, calling the Centenario “another temple of football.” Coach Alexander Medina is also Uruguayan, and Joaquín Piquerez starts for Palmeiras. Agustín Canobbio's Fluminense went out in the other semifinal.
Estudiantes Reached the Final Without Scoring
One quirk of this finalist: across both semifinal legs against Flamengo, Estudiantes scored no goals — 0-0 in La Plata, 0-0 at the Maracanã, then a 3-2 shootout. Palmeiras, by contrast, took a 2-1 lead at the Maracanã and survived a 1-0 loss at home on penalties.