Bonkers Copa Libertadores crescendo arrives as riot police and Copacabana rammies tee up Rio judgement night

South America's version of the Champions League will reach its climax this evening as two of the continent's most storied clubs, Boca Juniors and Fluminense go head to head in the legendary Maracana in Rio de Janeiro in what will be a 'home' final for the Brazilians.

CONMEBOL, the confederation who run South American football, had pleaded for calm in the build up to this clash, saying they 'repudiate any acts of violence and racism that may occur in the context of the final'.

They had been hoping to avoid a repeat of the extraordinary scenes from the showpiece of five years ago - where Boca played their eternal Superclasico rivals River Plate and violent clashes, including the Boca team bus being attacked, forced the postponement of the contest. However, pockets of sporadic violence in and around the iconic Copacabana beach fan zone have broken out and riot police have been deployed, using tactics that many fans on the ground have labelled heavy-handed.

Fluminense are one of the biggest clubs in South America never to have won the continent's greatest prize and will be hoping to earn their maiden title in their home stadium, the Maracana, which they share with their Fla-Flu Derby rivals Flamengo - who are the current holders of the Libertadores trophy.

Former Real Madrid left-back Marcelo joined the Spanish giants from Fluminense and returned home to his boyhood team after a brief spell with Olympiacos in Greece. The 35-year-old has the chance this evening to join an elite band of players to have won both the Champions League and Copa Libertadores in their careers. Midfielder Andre Trindade, reportedly shunned Liverpool's advances in the summer in order to see out his club's tilt at this competition, while evergreen