The 1972 Copa Libertadores was the 13th edition of the Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL's the annual club tournament. Independiente of Argentina defeated Universitario de Deportes of Peru in the finals, and became the second team in the tournament's history to win three titles, after fellow Argentine club Estudiantes. They would go on and face the winner of the 1971–72 European Cup in the Intercontinental Cup.
Format The tournament was divided into three phases. The first phase had 19 teams divided into four round-robin groups of four and one group of three (defending champions Nacional received a bye to the second phase). Each group had clubs from two countries. The winners of each group advanced to the second phase. Five teams joined the defending champions in two round-robin groups of three. The winners of each group advanced to play in the finals. The winner of the finals, and tournament champions, are determined by points (two for a win, one for tie).
Qualified teams CountryTeamQualify method2 berthsIndependiente1971 Metropolitan Championship winnersRosario Central1971 National Championship winners2 berthsOriente Petrolero1971 Copa Simón Bolívar winnersChaco Petrolero1971 Copa Simón Bolívar runners-up2 berthAtlético Mineiro1971 Campeonato Brasileiro winnersSão Paulo1971 Campeonato Brasileiro runners-up2 berthsUnión San Felipe1971 Primera División winnersUniversidad de Chile1971 Primera División runners-up2 berthsSanta Fe1971 Campeonato Profesional winnersAtlético Nacional1971 Campeonato Profesional runners-up2 berthsBarcelona1971 Ecuadorian league winnersAmérica de Quito1971 Ecuadorian league runners-up2 berthsCerro Porteño1971 Primera División winnersOlimpia1971 Primera División runners-up2 berthsUniversitario1971 Torneo Descentralizado winnersAlianza Lima1971 Torneo Descentralizado runners-up1+1 berthNacional1971 Copa Libertadores championsPeñarol1971 Primera División runners-up2 berthsValencia1971 Venezuelan Primera División winnersDeportivo Italia1971 Venezuelan Primera División runners-up
Draw The champions and runners-up of each football association were drawn into the same group along with another football association's participating teams. Two clubs from Uruguay competed as Nacional was champion of the 1971 Copa Libertadores. They entered the tournament in the Semifinals.
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5
Group Stage Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Semifinals Group A
Group B
Finals
Champion
External links
The tournament on RSSSF The tournament on CONMEBOL