Group 4 of the First Stage

Final Group 4 standings

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Grêmio	6	4	0	2	10	3	+7	12
Cruzeiro	6	3	0	3	6	5	+1	9
Sporting Cristal	6	2	2	2	4	5	−1	8
Alianza Lima	6	1	2	3	2	9	−7	5

Both Cruzeiro and Sporting Cristal were drawn into Group 4, together with their compatriots Grêmio (1996 Brazilian champions) and Alianza Lima (1996 Peruvian championship 2nd place), respectively. Cruzeiro's first group match was against Grêmio in Belo Horizonte. Cruzeiro lost 2-1, with their goal scored by Aílton. Cristal's first group match was against their rivals Alianza, in Lima. The Peruvian teams tied by 0-0.

Cruzeiro second group match was on the road against Alianza Lima. The Brazilian team lost by 1-0. They stayed on the road to play Sporting Cristal. The Peruvian team won by 1-0, and Cruzeiro lost its third game in the tournament, with a few chances of classification to the next stage.

Sporting Cristal third group match was in its home ground too, now against Grêmio, and winning again by 1-0.

Cruzeiro fourth group match was against Grêmio, but this time in the rival's ground, in Porto Alegre. With the obligation of winning to keep the chance of classification alive, Cruzeiro made 1-0 with Palhinha and scored its first three point in the competition. On the same day, Sporting Cristal tied again by 1-1 against Alianza Lima.

The next two games Cruzeiro played at home. Alianza Lima visited first and lost the match 2-0, goals by Reinaldo and Palhinha. In Cruzeiro's last match of group play, they played host to Sporting Cristal, whom they beat 2-1, goals by Alex Mineiro and Reinaldo.

Sporting Cristal last group match was visiting Grêmio in Porto Alegre and losing by 2-0.

Cruzeiro and Sporting Cristal finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, which advanced them to the Round of 16, together with Grêmio, who finished 1st.

Cruzeiro in the knockout stages

In the round of 16, they played against Ecuatorian club El Nacional. The first leg was played in Quito and Cruzeiro lost the match 1-0. Second leg, played at home, Cruzeiro won 2-1, with Marcelo Ramos scoring twice, sending the decision to the penalty shootout. In the penalty kicks, Cruzeiro won 5-3, advancing to the next stage.

Cruzeiro's quarterfinal match-up was against fellow Brazilian side Grêmio over again. The first leg, played at home, was won 2-0, goals by Alex Mineiro and Elivélton. The second leg, played in Porto Alegre, was lost 2-1, Fabinho scoring, with Cruzeiro advancing to the next stage by goal difference (3-2).

Cruzeiro's semifinal match-up was against Chilean club Colo-Colo. Cruzeiro won the first leg 1-0, goal scored by Marcelo Ramos, in Belo Horizonte. In Santiago lost 3-2, with Marcelo Ramos and Cleison scoring the goals, deciding again in the penalty kicks. In the penalty shootout Cruzeiro won 4-1, advancing to the Copa Libertadores final matches after 20 years.

As of the finals, Cruzeiro has an efficacy rating of 50% (6 wins, 6 loss).

Sporting Cristal in the knockout stages

In the round of 16, they played against Argentine club Vélez Sarsfield. The first leg was played home and the teams tied 0-0. Second leg, played away in Buenos Aires, Cristal surprisingly won 1-0, advancing to the next stage.

Sporting Cristal's quarterfinal match-up was against Bolivian club Bolívar. The first leg, played in La Paz, Cristal loss 2-1. But in the second leg, played home, the Peruvian squad won 3-0, advancing to the next stage by goal difference (4-2).

In the semifinals Sporting Cristal met another Argentine club, Racing Club. In the first leg, played in Avellaneda, Cristal loss 3-2. In the second leg, played home, Cristal won 4-1 and advanced to the next stage over again by goal difference (6-4). Was the best season of a Peruvian team in Copa Libertadores.

As of the finals, Sporting Cristal has an efficacy rating of 50% (5 wins, 3 draws, 4 loss).

Knockout stages summary

Cruzeiro			Sporting Cristal
El Nacional A 0–1		Round of 16 First leg		Vélez Sarsfield H 0–0
El Nacional H 2–1 (5–3 p)	Marcelo Ramos 61', 69'	Second leg		Vélez Sarsfield A 1–0	Jorge Soto 86'
Grêmio H 2–0	Alex Mineiro Elivélton	Quarterfinals First leg		Bolívar A 1–2	Luis Alberto Bonnet 82'
Grêmio A 1–2	Fabinho	Second leg		Bolívar H 3–0	Nolberto Solano 32' Jorge Soto 57' Prince Amoako 66'
Colo-Colo H 1–0	Marcelo Ramos 6'	Semifinals First leg		Racing Club A 2–3	Jorge Soto 42' Luis Alberto Bonnet 85'
Colo-Colo A 2–3 (4–1 p)	Marcelo Ramos 28' Cleison 64'	Second leg		Racing Club H 4–1	Luis Alberto Bonnet 5' Julio Rivera 41' Luis Alberto Bonnet 59' Nolberto Solano 73'

First leg

6 August 1997

20:10 (UTC-5)

Sporting Cristal	0–0	Cruzeiro

Estadio Nacional, Lima

Attendance: 45,000

Referee: Byron Moreno (Ecuador)

Sporting Cristal

Cruzeiro

GK 1 Julio C. Balerio DF 19 Manuel Marengo DF 3 Miguel Rebosio DF 2 Marcelo Asteggiano (c) DF 21 Martín Vásquez MF 4 Jorge Soto MF 6 Pedro Garay MF 8 Alfredo Carmona MF 7 Nolberto Solano FW 18 Luis Alberto Bonnet ST 11 Julinho Substitutes: DF 15 Erick Torres ST 24 Andrés Mendoza MF 10 Alex Magallanes Manager: Sergio Markarián

GK 1 Dida RB 2 Vítor DF 16 Gélson Baresi DF 22 Wilson Gottardo (c) LB 6 Nonato DMF 15 Donizete Oliveira DMF 5 Fabinho MF 8 Ricardinho MF 10 Palhinha MF 9 Cleison FW 23 Marcelo Ramos Substitutes: FW 19 Da Silva FW 25 Tico Manager: Paulo Autuori

Second leg

13 August 1997

21:45 (UTC-3)

Cruzeiro	1–0	Sporting Cristal
Elivélton 75'

Mineirão, Belo Horizonte

Attendance: 95,472 (106,853)

Referee: Javier Castrilli (Argentina)

Cruzeiro

Sp. Cristal

GK 1 Dida RB 2 Vítor DF 16 Gélson Baresi DF 22 Wilson Gottardo (c) LB 6 Nonato DMF 15 Donizete Oliveira DMF 5 Fabinho MF 8 Ricardinho  71' MF 10 Palhinha MF 20 Elivélton FW 23 Marcelo Ramos Substitutes: FW 19 Da Silva  71' Manager: Paulo Autuori

GK 1 Julio C. Balerio DF 4 Jorge Soto DF 19 Manuel Marengo DF 2 Marcelo Asteggiano (c) DF 15 Erick Torres (footballer, born 1975)  73' MF 6 Pedro Garay MF 7 Nolberto Solano MF 16 Julio Rivera MF 20 Prince Amoako  56' FW 18 Luis Alberto Bonnet  85' ST 11 Julinho Substitutes: MF 8 Alfredo Carmona  56' DF 5 Roger Serrano  73' FW 22 Ismael Abrahamson  85' Manager: Sergio Markarian