Peñarol and Benfica, Intercontinental final like 61 years ago

On vintage paper are the memories of that 1961 Intercontinental final, between the Penarol from Spencer, Joya, Sasía and Tito Goncalvezbefore him Benfica of the newly appeared Eusebio and the DT Bela Guttman.

Those were the times when the dispute at the senior level had begun, between the champion clubs of South America and Europe. The first edition was in 1960, between Penarol and Real Madrid. A year later, with round-trip matches, in Lisbon and Montevideo, and definition in the third game in the Uruguayan capital, the Uruguayan aurinegro found himself against Benfica.

Now, 61 years later, both clubs will repeat an Intercontinental final, this time at the youth level.

The initiative was born from the fermenting spirit of the president of the Penarol, Ignacio Ruglioand was quickly accompanied by the vice president of the Uruguayan Federation, Gaston Tealdi, and by the president, Ignacio Alonso.

They transferred the idea to the president of Conmebol, Alexander Dominguez, and the springs began to move. Within the framework of these times of synergies between UEFA and Conmebol, the idea caught on quickly.

Now, in Switzerland, where the definition of the UEFA Europa League was played that consecrated the Benfica champion in the final against Salzburgdetails were defined. Ruglio and Tealdi traveled to Switzerland, along with other Conmebol leaders.

On Sunday, August 21, a single final at the mythical Centenario Stadium in Montevideothe first U-20 Intercontinental final will be played, as confirmed by the president of Peñarol to MD, A sequence begins, which hopefully will have great continuity over time.

Penarol and Benfica They are two greats of world football. The Uruguayan club, five times champion of the Copa Libertadores and three times of the Intercontinental. The Benfica, champion in that 1961 of Europe, and then “condemned” by his coach, Bela Guttman, who when he was fired a year later, cursed the Portuguese team that he would not win anything else at European level. And only now, with this UEFA Europa Leaguethe curse could be broken.

Penarol and Benfica share something else. Bela Guttman, after leaving the technical direction of the Portuguese, was the coach of the Uruguayan aurinegro, in times when the presence of a European coach in these corners of America was not so frequent.

With history and with promises at the youth level, reissuing the shock of 61 years ago, Penarol and Benfica They will be face to face again next Sunday, August 21. Congratulations !!

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