Brazilian final guarantees the country's 15th title in Women's Libertadores

The 18th edition of the Women's Libertadores, the third based in Quito (Ecuador), will have, for the 15th time, a Brazilian champion. On Wednesday night (28), Cruzeiro beat Olimpia 1-0 at the Casa Blanca Stadium and secured themselves in the final. The opponent will be Corinthians, who beat Santa Fe (Colombia) 2-1, in the same place.

For the third time, the decision for the most important club title in South America will be 100% Brazilian. The previous two had the presence - and titles - of Corinthians. In the 2019 edition, also held in the Ecuadorian capital, Brabas beat Ferroviária 2-0. Four years later, Timão was champion over rival Palmeiras, winning 1-0 in Cali (Colombia).

The final will be this Saturday (31), again at Casa Blanca, at a time to be announced by the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol). On the same day and stadium, earlier, Santa Fe and Olimpia face each other for third place in the tournament.

The classification of the Minas Gerais team, who are competing in the Libertadores for the first time, had a decisive participation from the team's two main attackers. Four minutes into the second half, Byanca Brasil hit a free kick against the crossbar and Marília, on the rebound, completed the ball into the net.

Olimpia had Pamela Villalba sent off at 27, after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on the Gisseli wing. In stoppage time, fellow striker Cynthia Casco forced goalkeeper Camila Rodrigues to save the Celeste team with a great save, which ensured Cruzeiro's presence in the final.

The winner of the Libertadores is guaranteed next year's edition of the Champions Cup, the equivalent of the Intercontinental Cup in the women's calendar of the International Football Federation (FIFA). The South American representative will debut in the semi-finals against Barcelona (Spain), European champion, on January 27th.

If they win the title, Cruzeiro will also qualify for the first edition of the Women's Club World Cup, scheduled for 2028, in the United States. If Corinthians - which is already assured by winning the Libertadores in 2024 and 2025 - is champion again, one of the places allocated to South America will necessarily be defined by a ranking of clubs on the continent, which is yet to be developed.

Rematch x hegemony

If Corinthians can conquer America for the seventh time, the fourth in a row, Saturday's clash has the air of a revenge for Cruzeiro. Last year, the Cabulosas decided the Brazilian Championship against the Brabas.

In the first game, the teams finished 1-1 at Arena Independência, in Belo Horizonte. In the reunion, the São Paulo team won 1-0 at the Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo, guaranteeing their seventh national title, the sixth in a row.

Another final between the teams took place in 2024, the Brazilian Super Cup. At the time, the tournament brought together eight teams, who faced each other in single-game elimination matches. In the decision, held at the Neo Química Arena, Corinthians scored 1-0.

This year, São Paulo and Minas Gerais faced off in the quarterfinals of the Brasileirão, again with Brabas coming out on top. At Independência, the black and white team scored 1-0. At Canindé, in São Paulo, another Corinthians triumph, now 3-1, guaranteeing their place in the semi-finals.