Originally planned for the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo the Copa Sudamericana final will instead be played in the much smaller Estadio Domingo Burgueno, Maldonado.
That enhances the feel of a second-level tournament compared to the Maracana-staged Copa Libertadores final.
But it will not be ‘second-level’ for the participants, especially Fortaleza from Brazil who will be playing in their first international final.
In fact, the Leao can claim only Regional, State, and Serie B titles during their 104-year history.
Coached by Argentinian Juan Pablo Vojvoda and led on the pitch by experienced defenders Tinga and Titi the team from the unfashionable North East of Brazil has surprised many by getting this far.
Indeed they negotiated a way past the mighty Corinthians in the semi-finals, first by holding them in Sao Paulo before goals from Yago Pikachu and Tinga sealed the tie before over 60,000 fans at the Castelao.
Against them will be a leading Ecuadorian team, LDU Quito, coached by another Argentinian, Luis Zubeldia.
LDU have a much more storied history having won the Libertadores in 2008 and the Sudamericana one year later before also appearing in the 2011 edition as well as the Club World Cup.
Among their ranks is renowned Peru striker Paolo Guerrero of Hamburg, Corinthians, and Flamengo fame.
He may be 39-year-old but Guerrero still showed he has the touch by scoring the opening two goals in their semi-final defeat of Defensa y Justicia.
LDU certainly had some stumbles along the way to Uruguay not least against Chileans’ Nublense but they did hold their nerve when facing Brazilian heavyweights Sao Paulo in a penalty shootout in the Morumbi.
But the odds seem to favour Fortaleza to make history in what could be a fascinating final despite the low-key surroundings.
Report – John Bethell