Ahead of the Copa Libertadores final, there were riots between fans of the two rivals on Thursday. Supporters of Boca Juniors and Fluminense clashed in Rio de Janeiro
The Copa Libertadores final is not until Saturday evening, but the final of South America’s most important club competition is already the talk of the town days beforehand. On Thursday, however, due to negative headlines.
According to the Argentinian newspaper “La Nacion”, riots broke out on the famous Copacabana beach before the clash between reigning Argentinian champions Boca Juniors from Buenos Aires and Brazilian representatives Fluminense Rio de Janeiro. Before the match at the legendary Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, where the DFB team celebrated their fourth World Cup title in 2014, fans from both camps had clashed.
The police apparently used tear gas and fired rubber bullets in the midst of the riots, as seen on TV footage. The atmosphere among the fans is considered to be heated when teams from Brazil and Argentina meet – both countries have a deep-rooted enmity in sport.
For Edinson Cavani’s Boca Juniors, a win would be their seventh title; coach Jorge Almirón’s team last won the Copa Libertadores in 2007. For Fluminense, the club of ex-Madrilenean Marcelo, it would be their first ever title. Last year, Flamengo Rio de Janeiro beat their Brazilian rivals Athletico Paranaense from Curitiba 1:0.
