- Fluminense, Palmeiras and Flamengo won their first legs and will settle qualification between Tuesday and Thursday; Estudiantes and Corinthians, level at 1-1 after La Plata, resolve their tie at the Neo Química Arena.
- The four matches will be played in three countries: Argentina, Ecuador and Brazil host the return legs that will hand out the tickets to the semifinals.
Four nights, three countries and four places in the semifinals. The 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores reaches the week of the quarterfinal return legs with three Brazilian teams ahead and one tie completely open. Fluminense travel to Vicente López with the 2-0 from the Maracanã; Palmeiras defend a 1-0 lead over Liga de Quito in Quito, at the same stadium where a year ago they lost the semifinal first leg 3-0; Flamengo, the defending champions, host Independiente del Valle with a two-goal cushion after breaking their negative history at altitude. And Corinthians and Estudiantes, who drew 1-1 in La Plata, put everything on the line in São Paulo.
The schedule opens on Tuesday the 15th with Platense-Fluminense, continues on Wednesday the 16th with Liga de Quito-Palmeiras and Corinthians-Estudiantes, and closes on Thursday the 17th with Flamengo-Independiente del Valle at the Maracanã.
Platense vs. Fluminense
Platense know the road ahead because other Argentine teams have already traveled it. Seven times an Argentine club lost the first leg away by two goals or more and managed to turn the tie around in the second leg to advance in the CONMEBOL Libertadores: River on two occasions, Boca, Racing, Atlético Tucumán, Lanús and Estudiantes. The most recent was Racing in the 2023 Round of 16, who lost 4-2 in Colombia to Atlético Nacional and won 3-0 at home. That is the mirror for the 'Calamar' on Tuesday at the Estadio Ciudad de Vicente López.
The first leg at the Maracanã left a clear lesson. Fluminense settled the match in ten minutes of the first half, with Nonato's goal in the 21st minute after a mistake playing out from the back and Hulk's in the 31st, a left-footed finish across goal, and then managed the game. Platense finished with 13 shots to four, but only one was on target, and the 162 passes into the final third they completed were their highest tally in the competition: they got forward a lot and finished little. Martín Palermo's side, who already knocked out Coquimbo Unido on penalties in the Round of 16 and have in Juan Pablo Cozzani one of their key players, now need to turn that volume into goals.
Platense in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: results, squad and schedule
Fluminense, on the other hand, arrive with the precedents in their favor and with a warning. On four previous occasions they won the first leg by two goals in the competition: they went through twice, against Cerro Porteño in 2021 and Olimpia in 2023, on the way to their only title, and were eliminated in the other two, against Libertad in 2011 and against Olimpia again in the 2022 Third Stage. As visitors in second legs, they have progressed in three of their last four, with this year's 1-1 in Mendoza against Independiente Rivadavia as the most recent precedent. Marcão, the coach who took over in August, is still unbeaten after six matches, and Paulo Henrique Ganso, who assisted Hulk, is the outfield player with the most appearances for the 'Flu' in CONMEBOL competitions since 2019, with 50.
Fluminense in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: results, squad and schedule
Match details:
Stadium: Ciudad de Vicente López, Vicente López
Date and time: Tuesday, September 15, 7:00 PM (Argentina time)
Referee: Cristian Garay (Chile)
VAR: Juan Sepúlveda (Chile)
The match in numbers:
- Fluminense won the first leg by a two-goal margin on four previous occasions in the CONMEBOL Libertadores, advancing in two (vs Cerro Porteño in the 2021 Round of 16 and Olimpia in the 2023 quarterfinals) and falling in the other two (vs Libertad in the 2011 Round of 16 and Olimpia in the 2022 Third Stage). The most recent came on the way to their only title in the competition, three years ago.
- Seven times an Argentine team lost the first leg away by two goals or more and managed to come back in the second leg to advance in the CONMEBOL Libertadores (River twice, Boca, Racing, Atlético Tucumán, Lanús and Estudiantes). The most recent instance was Racing in the 2023 Round of 16, losing 4-2 in Colombia to Atlético Nacional and winning 3-0 at home.
- Fluminense progressed in three of their last four second legs played away in the CONMEBOL Libertadores (2W 1D 1L), beating Olimpia and Internacional in 2023 and drawing with Independiente Rivadavia in 2026. Their only defeat was against Atlético Mineiro in the 2024 quarterfinals (0-2).
- Paulo Henrique Ganso provided an assist in the first leg against Platense, his third for Fluminense in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. Since 2019, when he joined the club, he is the outfield player with the most matches for the Flu in CONMEBOL competitions, with 50 appearances: 32 in the CONMEBOL Libertadores, 16 in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana and 2 in the CONMEBOL Recopa.
- Platense completed 162 passes into the final third in the first leg against just 106 by Fluminense. In fact, it was the Calamar's highest figure in that category in a 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores match.
Liga de Quito vs. Palmeiras
Gonzalo Valle is the reason Liga de Quito are still alive. The goalkeeper prevented 2.3 goals in the first leg according to Opta's model and held his team together against Palmeiras' 28 shots, the 'Verdão's' highest tally of the entire edition. With 37 saves since the start of the group stage, he is the goalkeeper with the most stops in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores. On Wednesday, at the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Liga need him to be the standout again, but they also need something more: goals.
The 1-0 in São Paulo was signed by Agustín Giay, with a header, in the 25th minute, in his 98th match for Palmeiras and with his first shot on target in the competition. It was a night of Brazilian dominance with Jhon Arias at its heart: he was directly involved in ten shots, between his own attempts and passes leading to shots, the highest figure for any player in a knockout match of this edition. Liga, who had arrived in Brazil after knocking out Mirassol on penalties, managed just six shots in the entire game.
Liga de Quito in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: results, squad and schedule
Recent history, however, favors Gustavo Álvarez's side. Palmeiras are unbeaten in nine of their last ten away matches in the competition, and the only defeat came precisely at this stadium, in the first leg of the semifinals in October 2025: 0-3, a result the 'Verdão' overturned with a 4-0 in São Paulo. Liga have won nine of their last eleven home matches in the CONMEBOL Libertadores and the two draws were against Brazilian sides, this year's 0-0 with Mirassol and the 0-0 with Flamengo in 2025. On the other side, Abel Ferreira's team have a stat that backs them: they are unbeaten in away second legs outside Brazil, with four wins and one draw in five ties, and were only eliminated by Nacional in the 2009 quarterfinals, after a 0-0.
Palmeiras in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: results, squad and schedule
Match details:
Stadium: Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito
Date and time: Wednesday, September 16, 7:00 PM (Argentina time)
Referee: Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)
VAR: David Rodríguez (Colombia)
The match in numbers:
- Liga de Quito have won nine of their last 11 home matches in the CONMEBOL Libertadores (2D), although the two draws came precisely against Brazilian opponents: 0-0 against Mirassol in 2026 and 0-0 against Flamengo in 2025.
- Palmeiras are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 away matches in the CONMEBOL Libertadores (7W 2D 1L), although the only defeat came precisely against Liga de Quito in the first leg of the semifinals in October 2025 (0-3).
- Palmeiras are unbeaten in away second legs outside Brazil in the CONMEBOL Libertadores: four wins and one draw in five ties, qualifying on four occasions and being eliminated only by Nacional after a 0-0 draw in the 2009 quarterfinals.
- Jhon Arias (Palmeiras) was directly involved in 10 shots in the first leg against Liga de Quito (four attempts and six passes leading to shots), the highest figure for a player in a knockout-stage match of the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores. His teammate Flaco López had nine in the same match (four shots, five chances created).
- Gonzalo Valle (Liga de Quito) not only has the most saves since the start of the group stage of the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores (37), but is also the goalkeeper with the most punched clearances in the same period (7, tied with Carlos Miguel of Palmeiras).
Corinthians vs. Estudiantes
Precedents split down the middle for 90 decisive minutes. Corinthians advanced in seven of the eight occasions on which they drew the first leg away in the CONMEBOL Libertadores, three of them in the 2012 title-winning campaign, and won all three quarterfinal second legs they have played at home, the last on the way to that crown: 1-0 against Vasco da Gama at the Pacaembu. Estudiantes, on the other side, are unbeaten in five of their last six away matches in knockout rounds of the competition, with four clean sheets, and the only second leg in that run was the 3-0 against Universidad Católica in this year's Round of 16.
The 1-1 in La Plata had two halves with different owners. Alexis Castro opened the scoring in the 4th minute of the first half, the second-fastest goal in the 'Pincha's' history in a knockout round of the competition, from a Hugo Souza rebound. Kaio César equalized 4 minutes into the second half with an assist from Rodrigo Garro, the edition's assist leader with five, and that goal was Corinthians' first as visitors in the knockout stages since Romarinho's in the 2012 final against Boca. Souza finished with five saves, the last in stoppage time from a Joaquín Correa header.
Corinthians in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: results, squad and schedule
The styles, moreover, are opposites. Corinthians have the highest home possession average of the edition since the start of the group stage, at 67%; Estudiantes average 41% away from home and in La Plata generated half of their 14 shots from set pieces, including Castro's goal from a corner. Alexander Medina's side, four-time champions of America, will be without Gastón Benedetti, suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards, and lean on Guido Carrillo, the top scorer in their history in the competition with 14 goals. Fernando Diniz's team, the 2023 champion with Fluminense, look to repeat at the Neo Química Arena their habit of settling ties at home.
Estudiantes in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: results, squad and schedule
Match details:
Stadium: Neo Química Arena, São Paulo
Date and time: Wednesday, September 16, 9:30 PM (Argentina time)
Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)
VAR: Juan Soto (Venezuela)
The match in numbers:
- Corinthians advanced in seven of the eight previous occasions on which they drew the first leg away in the CONMEBOL Libertadores, including three instances in the campaign in which they won the title in 2012. The only exception was against Nacional in the 2016 Round of 16 (0-0 in Uruguay and 2-2 in Brazil).
- Estudiantes are unbeaten in five of their last six away matches in knockout rounds of the CONMEBOL Libertadores (3W 2D 1L), keeping a clean sheet in four of those games. The only second leg in that run was the 3-0 win against Universidad Católica in the 2026 Round of 16.
- Corinthians won all three quarterfinal second legs they have played at home in the CONMEBOL Libertadores, the last of them on the way to their only title in 2012: 1-0 against Vasco da Gama at the Estádio do Pacaembu.
- Corinthians have the highest home possession average since the start of the group stage of the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores (67%), while Estudiantes average 41% possession away from home. Although the Timão recorded just 43% possession against Rosario Central in the Round of 16, the team was holding 55% before suffering a sending-off in the 58th minute.
- Half of Estudiantes' shots in the first leg against Corinthians originated from set pieces (7 of 14), including Alexis Castro's goal from a corner. There were three shots from corners, two from indirect free kicks, one from a direct free kick and one from a throw-in.
Flamengo vs. Independiente del Valle
Junior Sornoza is one match away from a round number. If he plays on Thursday at the Maracanã, Independiente del Valle's number 10 will reach 50 matches for the club in the CONMEBOL Libertadores, and he is already the player with the most appearances, goals and assists in the 'Matagigantes'' history in the competition, with 49, 20 and 11, respectively. He will do so two goals down against a defending champion that barely knows what it is to trail.
In the entire edition, Leonardo Jardim's side have been behind for just 13 minutes and 54 seconds, 1.7% of the time played, the lowest percentage in the competition, and it happened only once, away to Cruzeiro in the Round of 16. In Quito they did what no visitor had done in the six previous meetings between the two: win. They did it with two shots on target, Bruno Henrique's, the man Jardim chose over Pedro for the altitude, and Léo Pereira's header, and ended a run of seven knockout matches without a win outside Brazil.
Flamengo in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: results, squad and schedule
The Maracanã, moreover, is their safe place. Flamengo have played 28 knockout matches in the competition at home and in 26 achieved a result that, if repeated against Independiente del Valle, would see them through; they won 12 of their last 13 knockout games at home, with the only defeat against Peñarol in 2024, 0-1. And whenever they won the first leg away, they advanced in six of seven occasions, including the five most recent. The exception is distant: 2008, 4-2 in Mexico against América and 0-3 in Brazil.
Independiente del Valle, however, have reasons not to give up. Joaquín Papa's side dominated the first leg with 18 shots and a Carlos González effort off the post, and in Brazil they have four wins in CONMEBOL competitions: against Corinthians in the 2019 CONMEBOL Sudamericana semifinals, against Grêmio in the 2021 Third Stage, against América Mineiro in 2022 and against Corinthians again in 2023. Since 2019, only Racing and Defensa y Justicia have as many away wins against Brazilian sides in those competitions.
Tie to be decided: Independiente del Valle need to win by two goals to force penalties and by three to qualify; Flamengo go through with any other result. Jardim summed it up in Quito in one sentence: "We took an important step, not a decisive one." On Thursday we will find out whether he was right.
Independiente del Valle in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: results, squad and schedule
Match details:
Stadium: Jornalista Mário Filho (Maracanã), Rio de Janeiro
Date and time: Thursday, September 17, 9:30 PM (Argentina time)
Referee: Andrés Matonte (Uruguay)
VAR: Antonio García (Uruguay)
The match in numbers:
- Flamengo advanced in six of the seven instances in which they won the first leg away in the CONMEBOL Libertadores, including the five most recent. The only exception was against Club América in the 2008 Round of 16 (4-2 in Mexico, 0-3 in Brazil).
- Flamengo have played 28 knockout matches in the CONMEBOL Libertadores at home and in 26 of them achieved a result that, if repeated against Independiente del Valle (a win, a draw or a one-goal defeat), would qualify them for the next round. In addition, they won 12 of their last 13 knockout games at home in the competition (1L, 0-1 to Peñarol in 2024).
- Independiente del Valle have four away wins in Brazil in CONMEBOL competitions: 2-0 against Corinthians in the 2019 CONMEBOL Sudamericana semifinals, 2-1 against Grêmio in the Third Stage of the 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores, 2-0 against América Mineiro in the group stage of the 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores and 2-1 against Corinthians in the group stage of the 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores. Since 2019, only Racing (4W) and Defensa y Justicia (5W) have as many away wins against Brazilian sides in those competitions.
- Flamengo have been behind for just 13 minutes and 54 seconds in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores, 1.7% of the total time played (803:11), the lowest percentage of any team in the competition. The only time they trailed was away to Cruzeiro in the Round of 16.
- If he features in this match, Junior Sornoza will play his 50th game for Independiente del Valle in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. He is the player with the most appearances (49), goals (20) and assists (11) in the Negriazul's history in the competition.
