For the third time in the last four editions of the Copa Libertadores, Flamengo will feature in the quarter-finals, hosting Penarol in the opening leg on Thursday at the Maracana.
Despite losing their previous encounter in this tournament, 1-0 at Bolivar, Mengao advanced into the next round 2-1 on aggregate, while the Uruguayans lost their second leg match against The Strongest by that same score but were able to move on thanks to a 4-0 triumph in the first game of that tie.
Match preview
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After their second-leg collapse versus Olimpia in the last 16 of this tournament a year ago, losing 3-1, Flamengo held it together and avoided a similar fate in 2024.
Tite's men suffered throughout their previous Libertadores encounter, having only 25% of the possession while conceding eight shots on target but somehow only shipping one goal.
Since suffering a 2-1 defeat domestically versus Fortaleza in July, this side are unbeaten in eight successive competitive games at the Maracana, winning six of those contests.
At home in this tournament, the Rio-based club have been nearly flawless, winning all four encounters at the Maracana while failing to concede a single goal.
Flamengo are unbeaten in their previous seven quarter-final fixtures in this competition, losing only one Libertadores home game in the last eight this century in 2010 (3-2 versus Universidad de Chile).
Thursday will only be the second time they face a side from Uruguay in the knockout portion of this tournament, with Urubu losing that tie versus Defensor 3-2 on aggregate despite winning the second leg at home, 2-0.
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All tournament long, Penarol have got by thanks to some convincing home victories, which carried them into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2011.
Diego Aguirre's side have won their four home fixtures in this competition by a combined margin of 13-1 but have lost three of their away games.
This club are unbeaten in the opening leg of a quarter-final tie at this tournament in the 2000s, but they have lost both of their Libertadores away matches at this stage this century.
Only one of their previous five away matches across all competitions ended in defeat for them in normal time, and it was that aforementioned loss to The Strongest.
Penarol have a 100% record in the Libertadores this year when scoring first but have also lost all of their games at this tournament when conceding the opener.
Decano have never lost a Copa Libertadores affair versus Flamengo, winning three of four meetings against them in this competition and failing to concede a single goal in any of those encounters.
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Team News
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Heading into this game, Flamengo could be missing Nicolas de la Cruz and Michael because of thigh injuries, while Everton, Matias Vina and Pedro are out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, a knee problem and an ACL issue, respectively.
Goals from Luiz Araujo and Leo Pereira in the opening leg of their tie with Bolivar were ultimately all they would need to advance.
From leg one to two of their previous tie, there were two changes made to the Penarol starting 11, with Leo Coelho and Maximiliano Olivera replacing Lucas Hernandez and Jaime Baez.
Thanks to goals by Facundo Batista, Baez, Maximiliano Silvera and Leonardo Fernandez in the opening leg of their round of 16 tie, Penarol were able to clinch a spot in the quarter-finals of this competition.
Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Rossi; Varela, Bruno, Pereira, Lucas; Allan, Pulgar; Gerson, De Arrascaeta, Araujo; Pedro
Penarol possible starting lineup:
Aguerre; Milans, Coelho, Mendez, Rodriguez, Olivera; Ramirez, Garcia, Batista, Darias; Silvera
We say: Flamengo 1-0 Penarol
Flamengo have not been at their best in this tournament so far, but they always seem to come through at home, so we project a narrow triumph in the opening leg.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
