1997 Copa Libertadores finals
The 1997 Copa Libertadores final was a two-legged football match-up to determine the 1997 Copa Libertadores champion. It was contested by Peruvian club Sporting Cristal and Brazilian club Cruzeiro. The first leg was played on August 6 at Peru's National Stadium, with the second leg played on August 13 at Cruzeiro's venue, Mineirão in Belo Horizonte.
Cruzeiro and Sporting Cristal were in their 3rd and 1st Copa Libertadores finals, respectively. Cruzeiro's last appearance had been in 1977, in which they lost to Argentine club Boca Juniors.
Qualified teams
Venues
Rules
The final was played over two legs; home and away. The team that accumulated the most points —three for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss— after the two legs was crowned champion. The away-goals rule was not used. In case both teams had finished tied on points after the second leg, the team with the best goal difference would have won. If the two teams had had equal goal difference, extra time would've been used. The extra time consisted of two 15-minute halves. If the tie was still not broken, a penalty shoot-out would ensue according to the Laws of the Game.Route to the finals
Cruzeiro qualified to the 1997 Copa Libertadores as the champion team in the 1996 Brazilian Cup. Sporting Cristal qualified as 1996 Peruvian champions.Group 4 of the First Stage
| Team | ||||||||
 Cruzeiro in the knockout stagesIn the round of 16, they played against Ecuadorian club El Nacional. The first leg was played in Quito and Cruzeiro lost the match 1–0. Second leg, played at home, Cruzeiro won 2–1, with Marcelo Ramos scoring twice, sending the decision to the penalty shootout. In the penalty kicks, Cruzeiro won 5–3, advancing to the next stage.Cruzeiro's quarterfinal match-up was against fellow Brazilian side Grêmio over again. The first leg, played at home, was won 2–0, goals by Alex Mineiro and Elivélton. The second leg, played in Porto Alegre, was lost 2–1, Fabinho scoring, with Cruzeiro advancing to the next stage by goal difference. Cruzeiro's semifinal match-up was against Chilean club Colo-Colo. Cruzeiro won the first leg 1–0, goal scored by Marcelo Ramos, in Belo Horizonte. In Santiago lost 3–2, with Marcelo Ramos and Cleison scoring the goals, deciding again in the penalty kicks. In the penalty shootout Cruzeiro won 4–1, advancing to the Copa Libertadores final matches after 20 years. As of the finals, Cruzeiro has an efficacy rating of 50%. Sporting Cristal in the knockout stagesIn the round of 16, they played against Argentine club Vélez Sarsfield. The first leg was played home and the teams tied 0-0. Second leg, played away in Buenos Aires, Cristal surprisingly won 1–0, advancing to the next stage.Sporting Cristal's quarterfinal match-up was against Bolivian club Bolívar. The first leg, played in La Paz, Cristal loss 2–1. But in the second leg, played home, the Peruvian squad won 3–0, advancing to the next stage by goal difference. In the semifinals Sporting Cristal met another Argentine club, Racing Club. In the first leg, played in Avellaneda, Cristal loss 3–2. In the second leg, played home, Cristal won 4-1 and advanced to the next stage over again by goal difference. Was the best season of a Peruvian team in Copa Libertadores. As of the finals, Sporting Cristal has an efficacy rating of 50%. Knockout stages summaryFinal summaryFirst legSecond leg |