South America

The prophecy has come true, Boca Juniors and River Plate will play in the Copa Libertadores final.

Oh boy, this is the ultimate soccer apocalypse. 

Over 100 years of ferocious rivalry meets in what the entire country highlights as the most important Superclásico of all time. Yes, that’s right, if you thought Barcelona–Real Madrid was the Clásico, this is the Superclásico: a reloaded, on steroids, bad mood version of a civilized European rivalry. 

Last Sunday, Brazilian club Corinthians honored the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting by wearing the names of the 11 victims on its jerseys during a Brasileirão match against Botafogo. 

Thanks to River Plate’s stirring comeback against Gremio and Boca Juniors taking care of business against Palmeiras, the world was granted the spectacle it craved — the first-ever Copa Libertadores final meeting between Argentina’s eternal Superclásico rivals.

After losing the home leg of its Copa Libertadores semifinal against Grêmio 1-0 in Buenos Aires, River Plate pulled off a shocking 2-1 reverse scoreline in Porto Alegre on Tuesday night to advance to the final of South America’s premier club competition on away goals. For River Plate, the late dramatics were pure delirium; for Grêmio, it was the cruelest of defeats.

Everything started brilliantly for the Brazilian club. In the 36th minute, Léo Gomes gave his side a 2-0 aggregate lead with a nicely taken half-volley from outside the 18. Arena do Grêmio lost it.