For the third time in the last four Copa Libertadores campaigns, Flamengo will take the stage in the quarter-finals, as they host Uruguayan side Penarol in the opening leg this Friday at Estadio do Maracana.
The Brazilian giants have faced a rough patch in recent league matches and will be eager to turn their fortunes around on the continental stage. Despite a 1-0 loss in their previous Libertadores fixture against Bolivar, Flamengo advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Penarol, on the other hand, faced Bolivian side The Strongest in the previous round and delivered a dominant 4-0 win in their first-leg home match. Despite losing 1-0 in the return leg, they had done enough to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
This marks the first time in over a decade that Penarol has reached this stage of the competition, and they will be hoping to make the most of their underdog status.
The Copa Libertadores quarter-final may bring back memories of the classic David vs. The Goliath clash, where the unexpected can tip the scales and decide the outcome of the match.
Between 2019 and 2022, Flamengo enjoyed a golden era, securing two Copa Libertadores titles and two Serie A championships. However, last season saw a slight dip as they finished fourth in the Brazilian league. Meanwhile, Peñarol, after clinching their 50th league title in 2018, have only won the championship once since then, making last year's second-place finish a commendable feat.
In the Copa Libertadores, Flamengo have been nearly unstoppable at home, winning all four matches at the Maracana without conceding a single goal. The Rio giants are also unbeaten in their last seven quarter-final games in this competition.
However, heading into this match, Flamengo could be without Nicolas de la Cruz and Michael due to thigh injuries, while Everton, Matias Vina, and Pedro are sidelined for the season with an Achilles tear, knee injury, and ACL issue, respectively.
FLAMENGO predicted lineup vs PENAROL: Rossi (GK); Varela, Bruno, Pereira, Lucas; Allan, Pulgar; Gerson, De Arrascaeta, Araujo; Pedro.
Uruguayan champions Peñarol enter this match as the clear underdogs, and they’ll likely adopt a more defensive approach to secure a result that keeps them alive for the second leg.
In their previous round, Peñarol made a couple of key adjustments between the two legs, bringing in Leo Coelho and Maximiliano Olivera for Lucas Hernandez and Jaime Baez. These changes paid off as the team secured their spot in the quarter-finals.
Crucial goals from Facundo Batista, Baez, Maximiliano Silvera, and Leonardo Fernandez in the opening leg of their Round of 16 clash ensured their progression and will give them hope of a strong performance in this high-stakes encounter.
PENAROL predicted lineup vs FLAMENGO: Aguerre (GK); Milans, Coelho, Mendez, Rodriguez, Olivera; Ramirez, Garcia, Batista, Darias; Silvera.
Friday’s clash will mark the fifth competitive meeting between Flamengo and Peñarol, with the Uruguayan side boasting an undefeated record in this fixture. Peñarol has claimed three wins and a draw in their previous encounters, a stat that adds an extra layer of tension to the matchup.
While Flamengo have struggled historically against Peñarol—failing to score in all four prior meetings, a run that dates back to 1982—they come into this game with strong form on home soil, unbeaten in their last seven matches at the Maracanã. This could be the edge they need, despite not having been at their absolute best in this year’s competition.
Flamengo have won three of their last five outings, while Peñarol has only managed two wins in their recent five matches. The last time these two met in the 2019 Copa Libertadores, the game ended in a 0-0 stalemate, but Flamengo will look to break their scoring drought and assert themselves in this crucial quarter-final leg.
With Flamengo’s home advantage and Peñarol’s defensive resilience, expect a hard-fought contest, but the Rio giants will likely edge out a narrow victory in the opening leg.
We believe the numbers are in favor of a Flamengo victory.
Both in the match and in the first half.
