the knockout phase, where they were eliminated by crosstown rivals Deportivo Cali in the semi-finals. In the Torneo Finalización, the team placed sixth and were eliminated again in the semi-finals, this time by Millonarios, who would eventually win the tournament against Santa Fe. In their return to international competition, they were knocked out of the 2018 Copa Sudamericana in its first round by Argentine side Defensa y Justicia after winning 1–0 in Argentina and losing the second leg in Cali by a 3–0 score. In both tournaments of the 2019 season, América displayed a solid performance. In the Apertura tournament, the team placed fourth in the first stage and third in their semi-final group, behind eventual runners-up Deportivo Pasto and tournament favourites Millonarios, whom they beat on the last matchday thus preventing them from advancing to the final. They eventually won their fourteenth domestic league title and first in 11 years in the Finalización tournament. Under the guidance of manager Alexandre Guimarães and led by strikers Michael Rangel and Duván Vergara, with the former becoming one of the tournament's top scorers, the team placed second in the first stage and topped their semi-final group ahead of crosstown rivals Deportivo Cali, Santa Fe, and Alianza Petrolera. In the final, Los Diablos Rojos faced Junior, whom they beat 2–0 on aggregate score over two legs to win the championship and secure a return to the Copa Libertadores for its 2020 edition after an 11-year absence. The 2020 season began with the return to the club of veteran legend Adrián Ramos, as well as América's return to the Copa Libertadores, in which their campaign began with a loss to Grêmio at home and a 2–1 win in Santiago de Chile against Universidad Católica, when both the domestic league and international competition were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The club was unable to reach an agreement with Alexandre Guimarães and the manager left the club in June upon the expiration of his contract, being replaced by Juan Cruz Real for the remainder of the season. Activity resumed in September with América losing the 2020 Superliga Colombiana to Junior. The team would eventually also fail to advance from the group stage of the Copa Libertadores, tying 1–1 with Grêmio in Porto Alegre on the last matchday due to a last-minute penalty which also prevented them from dropping to the Copa Sudamericana as they ended