Can they repeat history? Estudiantes de La Plata will contest a Libertadores final for the first time in 17 years and already knows its next hurdle. After an unforgettable night at the Maracanã, Alexander Medina’s side sits one match away from adding another trophy. Their next test lies beyond the border, against a rival tied to one of their greatest triumphs.
The “Pincha” earned its spot by eliminating Flamengo 3-2 on penalties after a goalless draw over two semifinal legs. Fernando Muslera shone, saving three attempts while the Argentine side played most of the second half with ten men following Baltasar Rodríguez’s red card.
The final hurdle for Estudiantes to reclaim South American glory
Estudiantes will meet Palmeiras on Saturday, November 28, at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario, Uruguay. The single‑match final’s kickoff time remains unconfirmed. The Argentine club chases its fifth Libertadores, while the Brazilian side aims for a fourth crown.
Palmeiras reached the showdown by dispatching Fluminense in a semifinal that also went to penalties. Coach Abel Ferreira’s side won 2-1 at the Maracanã and fell 0-1 in São Paulo before prevailing 5-3 in the shootout. That victory secured their second consecutive final after losing to Flamengo in 2025.
The tie carries a special backdrop for Estudiantes. Both clubs contested the 1968 final, when the Argentine side claimed its first Libertadores. That series required a third deciding match, so the 2026 clash writes a new chapter in their historic rivalry.
For the “Pincha,” this marks a sixth Libertadores final, following appearances in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 2009. They captured the first three and the 2009 title, while falling in 1971 to Nacional. The last triumph came under Alejandro Sabella with Juan Sebastián Verón as captain, beating Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte. In my view, the club’s pedigree makes them a formidable contender.
Now, with Verón serving as president, Estudiantes aims to extend a trophy cabinet that already holds four Libertadores, a Intercontinental Cup and an Interamerican Cup. The team also returns to an international final for the first time since the 2010 Recopa Sudamericana.
The run also locked in a hefty payout. Estudiantes secured a base of US$ 15,930,000 in prize money for the 2026 Libertadores, which includes the US$ 7,000,000 earmarked for the runner‑up. Lifting the trophy in Montevideo would boost the final’s share to US$ 25,000,000, pushing total earnings to US$ 33,930,000.
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