The 1965 Copa Libertadores de América was the sixth edition of South America's premier club football tournament. Colombia did not send a representative due to the disagreements between CONMEBOL and the Colombian football federation. This became the last edition of the tournament in which only the national champions of each association could participate.

After the victorious campaign the previous year, Independiente would go on to successfully defend the title after beating another Uruguayan team, this time Peñarol. Independiente began a legacy that saw it become a world class football team and paved the way for future conquests.

Qualified teams

Country Team Qualification method
CONMEBOL
1 berth 		Independiente 1964 Copa Libertadores winners
 Argentina
1 berth 		Boca Juniors 1964 Primera División champion
 Bolivia
1 berth 		The Strongest 1964 Copa Simón Bolívar champion
 Brazil
1 berth 		Santos 1964 Brasileiro Série A champion
 Chile
1 berth 		Universidad de Chile 1964 Primera División champion
 Ecuador
1 berth 		Deportivo Quito 1964 Campeonato Ecuatoriano champion
 Paraguay
1 berth 		Guaraní 1964 Primera División champion
 Peru
1 berth 		Universitario 1964 Primera División champion
 Uruguay
1 berth 		Peñarol 1964 Primera División champion
 Venezuela
1 berth 		Deportivo Galicia 1964 Primera División champion

Tie-breaking criteria

The format of the competition remained nearly the same as the previous year's edition; the preliminary round was eliminated from this edition.

At each stage of the tournament teams receive 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and no points for a loss. If two or more teams are equal on points, the following criteria will be applied to determine the ranking in the group stage:

  1. a one-game playoff;
  2. superior goal difference;
  3. draw of lots.

First round

Nine teams were drawn into three groups. In each group, teams played against each other home-and-away. The top team in each group advanced to the Semifinals. Independiente, the title holders, had a bye to the next round.

Group 1

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Argentina Boca Juniors 4 4 0 0 11 3 8 8
Bolivia The Strongest 4 1 1 2 5 7 −2 3
Ecuador Deportivo Quito 4 0 1 3 3 9 −6 1
January 31, 1965 Deportivo Quito Ecuador 0–1 Bolivia The Strongest Quito
Bonano
February 7, 1965 Deportivo Quito Ecuador 1–2 Argentina Boca Juniors Quito
Ordóñez Rattín
February 14, 1965 The Strongest Bolivia 2–3 Argentina Boca Juniors La Paz
Morales
Quevedo 		Menéndez
Silveira
February 21, 1965 The Strongest Bolivia 2–2 Ecuador Deportivo Quito La Paz
Vargas
Torres 		Paucar
Galarraga
February 26, 1965 Boca Juniors Argentina 4–0 Ecuador Deportivo Quito Buenos Aires
Silveira
Moraes
Rojas
Simeone
March 5, 1965 Boca Juniors Argentina 2–0 Bolivia The Strongest Buenos Aires
Menéndez
Rojas

Group 2

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Brazil Santos 4 4 0 0 10 3 7 8
Chile Universidad de Chile 4 1 0 3 6 9 −3 2
Peru Universitario 4 1 0 3 5 9 −4 2
February 13, 1965 Universidad de Chile Chile 1–5 Brazil Santos Santiago
Araya Pelé
Mengálvio
Pepe
February 19, 1965 Universitario Peru 1–2 Brazil Santos Lima
Calatayud Peixinho
February 22, 1965 Universitario Peru 1–0 Chile Universidad de Chile Lima
Fernández
February 26, 1965 Santos Brazil 1–0 Chile Universidad de Chile Pacaembu, São Paulo
Pelé
March 6, 1965 Santos Brazil 2–1 Peru Universitario Pacaembu São Paulo
Pelé
Pepe 		Zavala
March 10, 1965 Universidad de Chile Chile 5–2 Peru Universitario Santiago
Oleniak
Álvarez
Araya 		Zavala
Guzmán

Group 3

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uruguay Peñarol 4 3 0 1 5 2 3 6
Paraguay Guaraní 4 3 0 1 6 5 1 6
Venezuela Deportivo Galicia 4 0 0 4 2 6 −4 0
February 1, 1965 Deportivo Galicia Venezuela 1–2 Paraguay Guaraní Caracas
Danilo Muñoz
February 8, 1965 Deportivo Galicia Venezuela [A] Uruguay Peñarol Caracas
February 25, 1965 Guaraní Paraguay 2–1 Venezuela Deportivo Galicia Asunción
González
Quiñones 		Danilo
February 28, 1965 Peñarol Uruguay 2–0 Venezuela Deportivo Galicia Montevideo
Joya
Abbadie
March 7, 1965 Guaraní Paraguay 2–1 Uruguay Peñarol Asunción
González
Muñoz 		Rocha
March 10, 1965 Peñarol Uruguay 2–0 Paraguay Guaraní Montevideo
Sasía
Silva

Semifinals

Four teams were drawn into two groups. 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
Argentina Independiente 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 2
Argentina Boca Juniors 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 2
March 24, 1965 Independiente Argentina 2–0 Argentina Boca Juniors Buenos Aires
Mura
Rodríguez
March 28, 1965 Boca Juniors Argentina 1–0 Argentina Independiente Buenos Aires
Rojas
April 5, 1965 Playoff Boca Juniors Argentina 0 – 0
(a.e.t.)		 Argentina Independiente Buenos Aires

Independiente progressed to the finals due to better goal difference.

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uruguay Peñarol 2 1 0 1 7 7 0 2
Brazil Santos 2 1 0 1 7 7 0 2
March 25, 1965 Santos Brazil 5–4 Uruguay Peñarol Santos
Pelé
Dorval
Pepe 		Rocha
Silva
Sasía
March 28, 1965 Peñarol Uruguay 3–2 Brazil Santos Montevideo
Silva
Sasía 		Pepe
Coutinho
March 31, 1965 Playoff Peñarol Uruguay 2–1 Brazil Santos Buenos Aires
Joya
Sasía 		Pelé

Finals

Main article: 1965 Copa Libertadores Finals
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Argentina Independiente 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 2
Uruguay Peñarol 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 2
April 9, 1965 Independiente Argentina 1–0 Uruguay Peñarol La Doble Visera, Avellaneda
Bernao 83' Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Arturo Yamasaki (Peru)
April 12, 1965 Peñarol Uruguay 3–1 Argentina Independiente Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Gonçalves 14'
Reznik 43'
Rocha 46'		 de la Mata II 88' Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Arturo Yamasaki (Peru)
April 15, 1965 Playoff Peñarol Uruguay 1–4 Argentina Independiente Estadio Nacional, Santiago
Joya 44' Pérez 10'
Bernao 27'
Avallay 33'
Mura 82'		 Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Arturo Yamasaki (Peru)

Champion

Copa Libertadores de América
1965 Champion
Argentina
Independiente
Second Title

Top goalscorers

Pos Player Team Goals
1 Brazil Pelé Brazil Santos 8
2 Uruguay Pedro Rocha Uruguay Peñarol 4
Uruguay José Francisco Sasía Uruguay Peñarol 4
Uruguay Héctor Jesús Silva Uruguay Peñarol 4
Brazil Pepe Brazil Santos 4

Footnotes

A. ^ Points were taken from Deportivo Galicia due to irregularities in their line-up. Peñarol was awarded the points. Peñarol advanced due to goal difference.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1965_Copa_Libertadores
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