Flamengo thrash Gremio to set up River Plate Libertadores final

Hotshot Gabriel Barbosa scored a brace as Flamengo hammered fellow Brazilians Gremio 5-0 on Wednesday to secure a place in the Copa Libertadores final against Argentine holders River Plate.

Bruno Henrique, Pablo Mari and Rodrigo Caio also got their names on the scoresheet as the Rio de Janeiro giants completed a 6-1 aggregate victory over the 2017 champions at the Maracana stadium.

River Plate made a 2-1 aggregate victory over their bitter Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors on Tuesday despite losing the second leg 1-0.

That was a repeat of last year's final, the second leg of which was controversially played in Madrid after the original fixture was twice postponed due to Boca players suffering cuts and smoke inhalation when their team bus came under attack from River fans.

This year's final will be played over a single match for the first time, on November 23 in Santiago.

Despite being Brazil's most popular team, Flamengo have only once before won the Copa Libertadores, back in 1981. River are looking for a fifth title.

Gremio fashioned the first clear chance of the match on 18 minutes when the livewire Everton -- one of the stars of Brazil's Copa America victory three months ago -- tricked his way into space inside the box and sent a cross into the danger area.

Diego Alves spilled it but from just six yards out and Maicon could only stab the ball back to the Flamengo goalkeeper.

From then on, though, the hosts dominated.

Rafinha, sporting rugby style head gear, chipped a cross in from deep on the right on 26 minutes and Henrique dashed across his day-dreaming marker before sending a diving header inches wide.

Ten minutes from half-time Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta tried to chip Gremio goalkeeper Paulo Victor who could only palm the ball out to Gabriel, but his speculative overhead bicycle kick bounced harmlessly across the face of goal.

- 'Gabi Gol' -
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