Boca Juniors will attempt to equal Independiente’s long-standing record of seven Copa Libertadores titles as Fluminense fight to relieve themselves of being arguably the biggest club to have never touched this mammoth trophy. There’s more at stake: a place alongside favourites Manchester City at the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™.

The subplots are spellbinding. The teams’ two goalkeepers have almost 80 years between them; Marcelo will strive to make double-continent history; Frank Fabra will mark his close friend and Colombia team-mate Jhon Arias; two of the biggest boy wonders on the planet, Valentin Barco and Andre, are set to compete; and a shootout beckons between the tournament’s top scorer German Cano and the legendary Edinson Cavani.

If history is a sizeable advantage for Boca, location is for Flu. The climax to the 64th Libertadores will unfold in the Maracana. Not that the visitors will lack support. A mind-blowing 110,000 fans are expected to cross the border to watch the game in one of the planet’s most iconic stadiums or in the fan zone on Copacabana beach.