'The Derby of Nostalgia': Rio simmers as Palmeiras prepare to take on Santos for Copa Libertadores glory

Palmeiras and Santos will meet for the final of the 2020 Copa Libertadores on Saturday night with Brazil’s Maracanã Stadium set to host this fascinating encounter.

This will be the first all-Série A final since 2006, when Internacional beat Sao Paulo 4-3 over two legs. To add an extra edge to this encounter, this game will be a Clássico da Saudade, one of the most vibrant derbies in world football.

Palmeiras have been pulled out of the hat to be the home team, and they will be looking for a much tamer game than their semi-final clash with River Plate. The second leg in Brazil saw Los Millonarios nearly overturn a 3-0 first leg deficit.

After going 2-0 up in the first half, River had a goal ruled out for off-side and then two penalties overturned by VAR. Palmeiras dug deep and in the end they collapsed to their knees after nearly 100 minutes of whirlwind football.

The fright will only serve to toughen Palmeiras’ already battle-hardened squad. Club captain Felipe Melo is well-experienced in big games due to his playing career in Europe. The defensive midfielder has played for a host of top clubs including Juventus, Fiorentina, Galatasaray, and Inter Milan.

He returned home in 2017 to sign for Palmeiras and he was crucial in their 2018 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A title success. Goalkeeper Weverton is best-remembered for his performances at the 2016 Olympic Games, which saw him save the penalty to win Brazil the gold medal match.

The most exciting name on the squad is 18-year-old Gabriel Veron. The teenager, who won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2019, is the youngest player to score in a Copa Libertadores match. His performances on the wing have been electric this season and he is reportedly a target for Barcelona and both Manchester clubs.

Palmeiras will be managed in the final by 42-year-old Abel Ferreira. The Portuguese head coach is best-remembered for his playing career in Europe with Braga and Sporting Lisbon. He has worked as a coach since 2011, starting with Sporting’s B team and has climbed through jobs at Braga and PAOK to his current position in Brazil.

He took over the position in October 2020 and he had an immediate impact on Palmeiras’ fortunes. In addition to theri run to the final of the Copa Libertadores, he has also led the club to the final of the Copa do Brazil, which will played next month against Grêmio.

Winning the Copa Libertadores will also qualify Palmeiras for the 2020 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off next week in Qatar.

In their 106-year history, Palestra Verdão have never officially been world club champions. In 1951 they did win the Copa Rio, an unofficial world championship which brought Juventus, Red Star Belgrade, Nacional, Nice, Austria Wien, Sporting Lisbon, and Vasco da Gama to Brazil.

While this is not recognised by FIFA, they did qualify for the 1999 Intercontinental Cup in Japan. Roy Keane and Manchester United ruined their conquest in the final, which was the only win by a British team in the competition’s history. 

They will be facing a regenerated Santos team, who are looking for the first Copa Libertadores title since 2011. That year, a young Neymar inspired O Peixe to a 2-1 aggregate victory over Peñarol from Uruguay. That was Santos’ first success in the competition since they won back-to-back Copas with Pelé in 1962 and 1963.

As is tradition in the club’s Copa Libertadores exploits, there is a young and silky-footed forward leading the line. His name is Kaio Jorge and he is the latest talent from the academy which has produced Pelé and Neymar.

The teenager has produced some incredible performances in this year’s competition, including scoring three times in the quarter-finals against 2017 champions Grêmio. The hype around him has prompted rumours that Real Madrid and Inter Milan are now chasing the teenager’s signature.

Winning the competition will end a ten-year silverware drought at the Estádio Urbano Caldeira. Despite Santos winning their State League in 2012, 2015, and 2016, they have repeatedly failed to challenge for a Série A and Copa title.

Head coach Cuca is the man tasked with returning the eternal glory to Santos. The Brazilian has spent his entire 23-year managerial career in either Brazil or China and he knows how to win trophies. When he was in charge of Atlético Mineiro, he won back to back State Leagues in 2012 and 2013.

Cuca also won the club’s only Copa Libertadores title in 2013. His most recent success belongs to Palmeieras, as he masterminded their 2016 Série A title success.

Should Cuca get a second taste of the eternal glory, he will have the opportunity to win Santos their first ever FIFA Club World Cup title.

O Peixe have a long tradition of performing the world stage, going back to their 1962 Intercontinental Cup triumph over Benfica. They defended that title against AC Milan a year later and when UEFA and CONMEBOL organised the ‘Intercontinental Champions' Supercup’ in 1968, Santos won it.

Before either team thinks about a world title or lifting the Copa Libertadores, they will have to face one another in ‘The Derby of Nostalgia’ this evening.