Copa Libertadores final: River Plate vs Boca Juniors second leg to take place at Real Madrid's Bernabeu

The second leg was abandoned after Boca's coach was ambushed before the second leg

The rearranged Copa Libertadores final second leg between River Plate and Boca Juniors will be played at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium on 9 December.

The second leg was twice postponed last weekend after River fans attacked Boca’s team coach as they arrived to the Estadio Monumental in Bueno Aries.

Plans to play the game on Sunday fell through when Conmenbol found that Boca’s players were not in a fit state to play following the attack 24 hours ago, although it is understood that some players wanted to get the game played.

In light of the attack outside River’s stadium, which has marred ‘the final to end all finals’, Boca demanded that the second leg is played at a neutral venue and in a meeting between Conmebol president Alejandro Dominguez and club chiefs, it was decided the fixture would be played outside of Argentina.

“The decision is that this game is going to be played in front of fans from both clubs in Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium,” Conmebol President Alejandro Dominguez said.

“(Madrid) is not only one of the safest cities in the world, the Santiago Bernabeu is an elite stadium that offers the highest standards of security and comfort for an encounter of this magnitude.”

Qatar and Paraguay were initially options to host the match, with Qatar especially keen, but Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium has been chosen as the venue.

After being delayed by 24 hours because of heavy rain, the first leg was an entertaining match that ended 2-2 at Boca’s La Bombonera stadium.

This year is the last time that the final will be played over two legs and the winner of the tie will represent South America in the Club World Cup, which begins on 12 December.

The Copa Libertadores final second leg was postponed last weekend (Reuters)

A Conmebol tribunal on Thursday also ruled against Boca’s appeal to be awarded the match because of the violence but River were fined $400,000 (£313,000) and ordered to play their next two matches in continental competition behind closed doors.

Boca Juniors said it rejected the tribunal’s decision and would appeal.

The violent incidents outside the Monumental were beamed around the world, embarrassing Argentina days before this weekend’s G20 summit in Buenos Aires.

The task will now fall on Spanish authorities to ensure the game between two of the bitterest rivals in sport goes ahead peacefully at the 81,044-capacity Bernabeu.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Twitter that his government were ready to host the match and were already working with law enforcement authorities to ensure security for the event.

Spain’s position as a footballing hotbed with excellent flight connections to Latin America swung the decision in Madrid’s favour, however.

“The world is asking for an example of chivalry, sportsmanship and sporting values,” Dominguez said.

“Football is not about violence.”

Additional reporting by Reuters