Competition format
Wednesday 13 July 2005
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The European/South American Cup pitted the European and South American champions against each other in an annual contest initially played over two legs on a home-and-away basis, then as a one-match final at a neutral venue from 1980. It ran from 1960 to 2004 and was replaced by the FIFA Club World Championship from 2005.
Porto champions
FC Porto won the final European/South American Cup in December 2004, defeating Colombian side CD Once Caldas on penalities after drawing 0-0 in Yokohama. The competition was the brainchild of former UEFA general secretary Henri Delaunay, whose promptings led CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation, to set up the Libertadores Cup to determine the best club side in South America.
Madrid winners
The first final between the Libertadores Cup winners and the European Champions Clubs’ Cup holders took place in 1960 between Uruguay’s CA Peñarol and Real Madrid CF. After drawing the first leg 0-0, the five-time European champions ran out comfortable 5-1 winners at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Points system
Between 1960 and 1979 the final was played over two legs on a home and away basis. Initially the winner was decided on a points system, with a play-off used to determine the outcome if necessary. This gave the team playing the second leg at home a huge advantage as the play-off took place in their own stadium. As a consequence in 1967 the play-off was moved to a neutral venue, albeit on the same continent. In 1968 the away-goal ruling was introduced to determine the outcome if ties were level after two legs.
Japanese venue
From 1980 the competition was played as one match in Japan. Until 2001 it was held at Tokyo's National Stadium, but since then it has been played at the Yokohama International Stadium, venue of the 2002 FIFA World Cup final.
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