- Cruzeiro, at home, will try to stand tall against the defending champion and start the knockout stage on the right foot.
- El Mengão, managed by Leonardo Jardim, dreams of its fifth conquest of La Gloria Eterna.
Cruzeiro and Flamengo will contest one of the all-Brazilian ties in the Round of 16, bringing together two clubs with major histories in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. 'A Raposa', champions in 1976 and 1997, returned to the competition after a seven-year absence and managed to progress from a group that also featured Universidad Católica, Boca Juniors and Barcelona. They collected 11 points and sealed qualification with a 4-0 win on the final matchday.
On the other side are the defending champions. Flamengo began the defence of their 2025 title with the best record of the entire Group Stage, collecting 16 of the 18 available points and finishing unbeaten. The tie will begin in Belo Horizonte before being decided one week later at the Maracanã.
Cruzeiro in the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026: results, squad and schedule
Cruzeiro will look to turn the Mineirão into the starting point of a tie that represents another major test in their return to the continental elite. Artur Jorge, who won the CONMEBOL Libertadores with Botafogo in 2024, built a team during the Group Stage capable of alternating between taking the initiative and absorbing pressure, finishing with four clean sheets in six matches.
Matheus Pereira had a decisive influence from midfield and scored four goals, while Kaio Jorge enters the tie as the team's leading scorer this season with 14. Fagner, who was involved in three goals during the first phase, is another key figure in a side that will look to build an advantage at home and travel to the Maracanã with a genuine chance of completing the upset.
Flamengo in the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026: results, squad and schedule
Flamengo approach the tie from a different position: they are seeking to defend their crown. After winning their fourth title against Palmeiras in 2025, the Rio de Janeiro side once again displayed their strength on the continental stage, scoring 14 goals and conceding only two across their six matches in Group A. Bruno Henrique led the attacking production with four goals, Giorgian de Arrascaeta remains a central figure in their creative play and Pedro arrives with 21 goals this season.
The tie also carries a particular storyline on the touchline: Leonardo Jardim took charge of Flamengo in March after managing Cruzeiro during 2025. He will now return to the Mineirão as an opponent, leading a squad aiming to become the first Brazilian club to win the CONMEBOL Libertadores five times.
Match details:
Stadium: Allianz Parque, São Paulo
Date and time: Wednesday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Referee: Yael Falcón (ARG)
VAR: Héctor Paletta (ARG)
Match facts:
- The only previous CONMEBOL Libertadores edition in which Cruzeiro and Flamengo met was in 2018, when 'A Raposa' eliminated 'O Rubro-Negro' in the Round of 16 with a 2-1 aggregate score, with each team winning away from home. Giorgian de Arrascaeta, who is tied with Bruno Henrique for the most CONMEBOL Libertadores appearances in Flamengo's history (67), scored for Cruzeiro in that tie.
- Cruzeiro have progressed from four of their last five CONMEBOL Libertadores knockout ties against Brazilian opponents since 2009, with their only elimination coming against São Paulo in the 2010 quarterfinals. Flamengo, meanwhile, have advanced from six of their last seven knockout ties against Brazilian opposition in the competition since 2019, with the only exception being the 2021 Final against Palmeiras.
- Flamengo have lost only one of their last 17 CONMEBOL Libertadores matches, a 1-0 away defeat to Estudiantes in the 2025 quarterfinals, recording 12 wins and four draws in that span. They conceded only five goals during that run, an average of 0.3 per match.
- Matheus Pereira was directly involved in 63% of Cruzeiro's goals in the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026, with four goals and one assist from 'A Raposa's' eight goals. That is the highest percentage among players whose teams qualified for the knockout stage and the third-highest in the Group Stage overall, behind Lucas Colitto with Cusco (75%) and Lorenzo Melgarejo with Libertad (100%).
- Only Álex Arce (8 with Independiente Rivadavia) was directly involved in more goals than Bruno Henrique (6, four goals and two assists) during the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026. The Flamengo forward recorded the best Group Stage of his career in that category, matching his six goal involvements from 2022, when he scored once and provided five assists as 'O Rubro-Negro' went on to win the title.
