On Wednesday evening, Flamengo faces Estudiantes de La Plata at Maracana Stadium during the 2026 Copa Libertadores. This matchup, crucial for positioning in Group A, could see Flamengo secure first place with a victory. Estudiantes, currently trailing by just one point, hopes to achieve a favorable result as well.
Match Preview
Flamengo leads Group A with seven points from two victories and a draw, including a recent 1-1 against Estudiantes in La Plata. A win is essential for Flamengo to solidify their advancement to the knockout stage. In contrast, Estudiantes sits at six points, making this showdown pivotal in the race for group supremacy.
Flamengo occupies second place in the Brasileirão with 31 points. However, they are experiencing inconsistency, winning only once in their past five matches across all competitions. Their last match resulted in a draw against Athletico-PR, where Pedro equalized late, showcasing his pivotal role as the team’s leading scorer.
Recent Form
- Flamengo Copa Libertadores performance: W, W, D
- Flamengo overall performance: W, D, D, W, L, D
- Estudiantes Copa Libertadores performance: D, W, D, D
- Estudiantes overall performance: W, D, D, W, D, L
Elimination from the Copa do Brasil against Vitória has put Flamengo’s focus solely on the Brasileirão and Libertadores. Although four players received World Cup call-ups, the team aims to maintain its competitive edge ahead of season breaks.
Estudiantes had been leading Zone A of the Argentine Torneo Apertura but faced a setback in the playoffs, losing to Racing. This defeat has raised concerns about their mental resilience, especially with their upcoming clash against a strong Flamengo side.
Team News
Flamengo appears nearly injury-free, with only Arrascaeta, Plata, and Pulgar unavailable. The squad’s morale is high due to recent international selections, likely boosting their performance.
For Estudiantes, no new injury challenges have emerged. However, Joaquín Burgos is still absent for unspecified reasons, and Arzamendia is sidelined with a long-term injury.
Predicted Lineups
| Flamengo | Estudiantes |
|---|---|
| Rossi | Muslera |
| Varela (Danilo), Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro | Meza, González Pírez, Tomás Palacios, Benedetti |
| Evertton Araújo, Jorginho, Carrascal, Lucas Paquetá, Samuel Lino | Piovi, Neves, Amondarain, Tiago Palacios (Castro), Cetré |
| Pedro | Carrillo |
Match Prediction
This contest is expected to be closely contested, with both teams displaying similar recent forms. Flamengo has struggled recently, leading to speculation about managing squad depth as they look to upcoming fixtures, particularly against Palmeiras.
For Estudiantes, the pressure is on following their most recent loss. They risk being overtaken in the standings, highlighting the importance of this match. Both teams may be cautious, making a draw a likely outcome, with a score prediction of 1-1 being plausible.
