Flamengo vs Estudiantes – News and Probable Lineups

On Wednesday night, Flamengo will take on Estudiantes de La Plata at the Maracana Stadium in the fifth round of the 2026 Copa Libertadores. This article covers all the essential details, including predictions, key information, and insights into the match.

This match is critical for securing top position in Group A. Flamengo enters the pitch with the knowledge that a win could solidify their place at the top, while the Argentine side looks to secure the top spot with a favorable away result.

Match overview

Flamengo currently leads Group A of the Libertadores with seven points, courtesy of two wins and a draw (1-1) against Estudiantes in La Plata, and they will need to secure a victory at the Maracanã to inch closer to a comfortable spot in the next stage of the competition.

The opponents, Estudiantes, trail just behind with six points, making this fixture crucial for the battle for the top position.

Flamengo arrives at this match sitting second in the Brasileirão, with 31 points, but they are experiencing a dip in form, having won only once in their last five encounters across all competitions.

In their last outing, which ended in a draw with Athletico-PR, they found themselves down a goal within ten minutes due to a mistake by Rossi, and it was Pedro who salvaged a point in the 83rd minute.

This season, Pedro has been Flamengo’s leading attacking force. The number nine tops the Brasileirão scoring charts with nine goals and has netted 17 times in 2026, averaging 0.55 goals per match, which is an improvement over his performance in 2025.

Flamengo’s journey in the Copa do Brasil came to an end after a 2-0 loss to Vitória, resulting in a 3-2 aggregate defeat, which halted a ten-match unbeaten streak. This has reduced their focus to two competitions — the Brasileirão and the Libertadores. With four players selected by Ancelotti for the World Cup, the team is tasked with maintaining performance levels leading up to the season break.

Estudiantes had been at the top of Zone A in the Argentine Torneo Apertura but were ousted in the playoffs by Racing, who won 1-0 in La Plata thanks to a header from Sosa in the 89th minute. This home defeat exposed weaknesses that were previously hidden during an eight-match unbeaten streak.

In the Libertadores, Estudiantes has performed well, accumulating six points from four games, including a victory over Cusco FC. However, their recent elimination from the domestic knockout competition raises concerns regarding their mindset as they prepare for this pivotal clash at the Maracanã.

Historically, Flamengo have a favorable record against Estudiantes, having won both of their recent encounters in the 2025 Libertadores, along with the 1-1 draw earlier in this season’s campaign.

Team News

Flamengo approaches the fixture almost at full strength. The only players absent are Arrascaeta, Plata, and Erick Pulgar, all of whom are currently receiving treatment.

The atmosphere within the squad is positive following the World Cup selections, with Lucas Paquetá, Alex Sandro, Danilo, and Léo Pereira all included, likely providing an extra boost in their forthcoming games prior to the tournament break.

For Estudiantes, there are no new injury concerns and they have no players suspended for the upcoming match.

However, Joaquín Burgos continues to be absent for unspecified reasons, and Arzamendia is ruled out due to a cruciate ligament injury, with his return anticipated around mid-August.

Flamengo probable starting XI:

Rossi; Varela (Danilo), Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Evertton Araújo, Jorginho, Carrascal, Lucas Paquetá and Samuel Lino; Pedro. Manager: Leonardo Jardim.

Estudiantes probable starting XI:

Legguard; Meza, González Pírez, Tomás Palacios and Benedetti; Piovi, Neves, Amondarain, Tiago Palacios (Castro) and Cetré; Cheek. Manager: Alexander Medina.

With both teams experiencing similar form, this match is likely to be closely contested, with the potential for both sides to score. Flamengo has underperformed in their last two games and, given that qualification appears secure, they may opt to manage their squad carefully with Saturday’s match against Palmeiras in mind. Thus, a more measured approach from the home side would not be unexpected.

Estudiantes de La Plata steps into this match under pressure following their recent defeat, and risks falling behind Independiente Medellin in the group standings, increasing the stakes of this encounter. Nevertheless, they are expected to proceed with caution away from home, suggesting that a balanced match with goals from both teams ending in a draw is the most plausible prediction.

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