Flamengo Faces Del Valle at Maracanã with Advantage in Libertadores Bid
The stakes are high in Rio de Janeiro. Flamengo takes the field this Thursday (17) at 9:30 PM BRT at the Maracanã, with the mission of confirming their spot in the Conmebol Libertadores semifinals. Their opponent is Independiente del Valle in the second leg of the quarterfinals. The Rio de Janeiro club carries the advantage built from their 2-0 victory in Quito, Ecuador, and aims to maintain momentum to achieve their fifth continental title.
Advantage and Favorable Record
Mengão arrives with strong momentum for this decisive clash. With a streak of five consecutive victories this season, including the triumph over Corinthians in the Brazilian Serie A, the team led by Leonardo Jardim demonstrates consistency. In the Libertadores, their recent record is even more impressive: a 12-match unbeaten run, with nine wins and three draws. Playing at home, Flamengo boasts an even stronger record, with nine consecutive victories at the Maracanã in the competition and only two losses in their last 20 home games.
Doubts and Lineup
The main uncertainty in Flamengo’s lineup is the presence of defender Léo Pereira, who was rested against Corinthians due to muscle discomfort. On the other hand, Bruno Henrique, who scored one of the goals in the first leg, might return to the starting lineup.
Head-to-Head Against Del Valle
The head-to-head record between Flamengo and Independiente del Valle is balanced, but with a slight advantage for the Brazilian club. In seven matches, Mengão has secured four victories, alongside one draw and two losses. In their most recent encounter, on September 10, Flamengo won 2-0. The rivalry in the Libertadores also includes other chapters, such as the 2020 group stage, where each team claimed a victory. Against Ecuadorean teams in general, Flamengo also boasts an impressive record, with 16 wins in 23 matches in the continental competition.
The match will be officiated by Uruguayan referee Andrés Matonte, assisted by Carlos Barreiro and Mathias Muniz. Antonio Garcia, also from Uruguay, will be in charge of the VAR. Flamengo aims to confirm their superiority and advance to the next stage of the Libertadores in front of their home crowd.
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