- The defending champions will decide at the Maracanã a tie left 1-1 in Belo Horizonte, with their bench full of pedigree as their banner.
- Cruzeiro arrive on a seven-match unbeaten away run in the competition and with Keny Arroyo's golazo as a warning.
The defending champions decide at home. Flamengo and Cruzeiro arrive at the Maracanã level at 1-1 after a vibrant first leg in Belo Horizonte, and with a phrase that now sounds like prophecy: "The decision will come at the Maracanã," Leonardo Jardim — a former 'Raposa' coach — had anticipated before the tie.
At the Mineirão, Cruzeiro struck through a Keny Arroyo golazo, a left-footed strike from the corner of the box that flew into Agustín Rossi's top corner. The four-time champions' response came from the bench: Lucas Paquetá needed just 82 seconds on the field to equalize, after a free kick that included a Léo Ortiz header off the post. The champions once again showed their most fearsome weapon: a bench full of pedigree that changes matches.
Flamengo in the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026: results, squad and schedule
The 'Mengão' also arrive backed by their campaign: the best Group Stage in the tournament (16 points out of 18, with 14 goals scored and 2 conceded) and a squad of two full teams that their coach manages with cold precision. The second leg at home, with their fans, is the stage Jardim asked for.
Cruzeiro, managed by Artur Jorge, travel to Rio with arguments of their own: the 'Raposa' were brave in the first leg, struck first and showed with Arroyo's emergence that they have what it takes to unsettle the champions. The challenge is enormous — eliminating Flamengo at the Maracanã — but the 1-1 keeps everything open.
Tie level at 1-1: any win means qualification and another draw will send the decider to penalties.
Cruzeiro in the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026: results, squad and schedule
Match details:
Stadium: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Date and time: Wednesday, August 19 at 9:30 p.m.
Referee: Gustavo Tejera (URU)
VAR: Andrés Cunha (URU)
Match facts:
- Gerson (Cruzeiro) was fouled five times in the first leg against Flamengo, taking his total to 22 in the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026. He is the most-fouled player in the competition this season.
- Flamengo completed 200 matches in the CONMEBOL Libertadores in the last round against Cruzeiro, with 114 wins, 42 draws and 44 defeats. That is the most wins by any team across their first 200 matches in the competition, surpassing Palmeiras (111), and the fewest defeats (River, 47).
- Flamengo won seven of their eight home matches against Brazilian opponents in the CONMEBOL Libertadores in the 21st century. The only defeat came precisely against Cruzeiro, in the 2018 round of 16 (0-2).
- Cruzeiro are on a seven-match unbeaten run as visitors in the CONMEBOL Libertadores (W4 D3), their longest away streak without defeat in the competition. The 'Raposa' have conceded just one goal in that run.
- Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo) has scored in three of his last four matches in the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026, including two goals off the bench in the last two rounds. They are the only goals of his career in 12 matches in the competition, across the 2018 and 2026 editions.
