RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Fluminense and Argentine side Boca Juniors will vie for the most coveted trophy in South American club football when they meet in the Copa Libertadores final at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium on Saturday.
Fluminense have never won the tournament, with their best showing coming in 2008 when they lost the final to Ecuador's Liga de Quito.
Boca Juniors are the second most successful side in Copa Libertadores history, having lifted the trophy six times.
In recent years, however, the competition has not been kind to the Buenos Aires giants. Their last Libertadores triumph came in 2007, and they have since lost two finals, including a harrowing extra-time defeat to local rivals River Plate in 2018.
Here are five things to watch as the 64th edition of the tournament draws to a climax.
BOCA FANS EN MASSE
Due to a scheduling quirk, Fluminense will have the luxury of playing at their home stadium, though that doesn't mean they will enjoy partisan support. More than 100,000 Boca fans are expected to flock to Rio de Janeiro and those without a ticket will be able to watch the match at a fan zone that has been set up on Copacabana beach.
According to Argentine consular officials in Rio de Janeiro, 87,000 flight tickets have been sold from Buenos Aires to the city specifically for Saturday's match while thousands of other fans are expected to make the trip by car or bus.
"This is an unprecedented event. Never have so many people from the same country and the same club come [to Rio] for a single match," consul Ana Emilia Sarrabayrouse said.
CANO'S SCORING INSTINCT
Striker German Cano has been prolific since joining Fluminense from local rivals Vasco da Gama in 2022, scoring 80 goals in 123 games with the Rio de Janeiro club.
The 35-year-old Argentine has been key to Fluminense's march to the final with 12 goals in 11 matches this Libertadores campaign.
Understandably, Cano has quickly become a favorite among Fluminense fans, though support from his family in Argentina has not always been forthcoming.
"There are many mixed feelings in my family. On the one hand, they support me and, on the other, some of them have been Boca fans since they were born," Cano told FIFA.com.
He added: "It would be an honor and a great source of pride to win the Copa Libertadores because it would mean that our names will be forever remembered in Fluminense's history."
CAVANI'S CLASS
While Cano has accumulated impressive statistics for Fluminense, former Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani has struggled in his first season at Boca Juniors.
The 36-year-old has netted just three times in 13 appearances across all competitions, including one goal in five Copa Libertadores outings.
But he has shown glimpses of his old self in recent games and scored in the away leg of Boca's semifinal against Palmeiras.
Cavani will have the added motivation of playing to earn a recall to Uruguay's national team for World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Bolivia later this month.
BATTLE OF THE GOALKEEPERS
If Cano and Cavani will be fighting for protagonism in attack, there will be another fascinating battle between rival goalkeepers Fabio Maciel and Sergio Romero.
Forty-three-year-old Fabio sits fourth on the all-time list of oldest Copa Libertadores players, having recently surpassed countryman Ze Roberto.
The final will mark his 100th Copa Libertadores match, a milestone no other Brazilian has achieved.
At the other end will be former Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who also continues to belie his age for Boca. The 36-year-old has conceded just three goals in Boca's past six Libertadores matches and made a series of fine saves in penalty shootout defeats over Palmeiras, Racing and Club Nacional.
MARCELO EYEING HISTORY
Another player hoping to add a glorious final chapter to an already decorated career is Fluminense defender Marcelo. The 35-year-old is aiming to become the 15th player to win both the Copa Libertadores and the UEFA Champions League.
Others to have achieved the feat are: Juan Pablo Sorin, Santiago Solari, Dida, Roque Junior, Cafu, Carlos Tevez, Walter Samuel, Ronaldinho, Neymar, Danilo, Rafinha, Ramires, David Luiz and Julian Alvarez.
Marcelo won five UEFA Champions League titles during his 16 seasons at Real Madrid.
"I don't think of myself as a renowned player who has lots of titles," the left-back said. "I always think about the present, and now I'm enjoying one of the best moments of my life, playing a final with Fluminense. What I did in the past has been and gone. What gives me joy and motivation every day is living in the present."
YOUNG GUNS
At just 19, Valentin Barco has become an indispensable part of Jorge Almiron's squad. The left-back has made 27 appearances across all competitions for Boca this season, including eight in the Copa Libertadores, and he is already being linked to a host of European clubs.
Fluminense also have their share of young talent, including midfield enforcer Andre Trindade. The 21-year-old has been compared to Manchester United's Casemiro and is reportedly on the radar of clubs such as Liverpool and Arsenal. ■
