The 1979 Copa Libertadores represented the 20th edition of the tournament, which saw Olimpia of Paraguay win the title for the first time, the first time a team from a country outside Uruguay, Argentina or Brazil won the tournament. This allowed the Paraguayan side to play the Intercontinental Cup against Malmö FF of Sweden, in which the South American side won.
Qualified teams
Draw
The champions and runners-up of each football association were drawn into the same group along with another football association's participating teams. Three clubs from Argentina competed as Boca Juniors was champion of the 1978 Copa Libertadores. They entered the tournament in the Semifinals.
Group stage
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Semifinals
Group A
Tiebreaker
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Group B
Finals
Champion
Top-scorers
6 goles
Juan José Oré (Universitario) Miltäo (Guaraní)