Resurgent Internacional will be the favorite when it takes on Guadalajara of Mexico in the two-legged final of the Copa Libertadores.
The Brazilian club used the two-month break for the World Cup between the competition's quarters and semifinals to change its manager and has since won four league games from five as well as beating compatriot Sao Paulo on away goals to reach the Copa Libertadores final, which starts on Wednesday.
After guiding the Brazilian side to the semis, Jorge Fossati was dismissed because of mediocre results in its domestic league.
His replacement, Celso Roth, used the time during the World Cup to reinforce his squad with new signings Renan in goal, midfielder Tinga and striker Rafael Sobis.
''Internacional will be a very difficult team to beat,'' Roth said. ''We might lose a game here or there because nobody is invincible, but it will be very difficult.''
Guadalajara, known as Chivas, is also a different proposition from earlier rounds.
Five of the Chivas first team - goalkeeper Luis Michel, defender Jonny Magallon and forwards Alberto Medina, Adolfo Bautista and Javier ''Chicharito'' Hernandez - were called up to Mexico's pre-World Cup training camp and missed the round of 16 and quarterfinals.
All but striker Hernandez - who has since joined Manchester United - returned for the semifinal win against Universidad.
''It should be a great final,'' Chivas coach Jose Luis Real said. ''I think the two teams have shown themselves to be the best. We have had to play with young players and missed others through injury, but we've shown our qualities to reach the final.''
The Mexican club is only in this year's Libertadores by default after being forced to pull out of the 2009 tournament because of the swine flu outbreak in Mexico.
Opposition clubs refused to travel to Mexico at the height of the disease and Libertadores organizer CONMEBOL - the governing body of South American football - failed to find a solution.
Eventually, Chivas and fellow Mexican side San Luis were given byes to this year's last 16 - the same stage they had reached before the withdrawals in 2009.
The awkward decision made the group stage confusing with the six best-placed runners-up joining the eight group winners - plus Chivas and San Luis - in the last 16.
Guadalajara has the chance to become the first Mexican club to win the tournament since Mexico accepted the invitation to join in 1998. Cruz Azul, the only other Mexican finalist, lost to Boca Juniors in 2001.
The first leg of the final is being played in a week set aside by FIFA for international matches, meaning Guadalajara and Internacional players will not be available for their countries' friendlies.
In another quirk, win or lose Internacional is already guaranteed a spot in the Club World Cup to be played in December against the other continental champions. Mexican clubs are part of the North and Central American region and can't represent South America.
Internacional is aiming for a second title after lifting the trophy in 2006. Internacional went on to win the Club World Cup that year, beating Barcelona 1-0 in the final.
The Copa Libertadores started with 40 teams from 11 nations in January. The new champion will be crowned on August 18 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
