Flamengo arrive in Quito for Thursday’s Libertadores quarter-final against Independiente del Valle | OneFootball

Flamengo have arrived in Quito ahead of Thursday’s Copa Libertadores quarter-final first leg against Independiente del Valle.

According to Coluna Do Fla, the squad’s flight touched down around 20:30 Brasília time, 18:30 local, on Monday. The outlet also noted low temperatures and suggested Leonardo Jardim might favour a more physically robust side, with the next two days seen as decisive.

The team checked into their hotel amid a large Brazilian media presence, with no Flamengo or Independiente del Valle supporters seen. Visiting fans are expected later in the week, closer to the game.

Arriving early should aid acclimatisation to Quito’s altitude, around 2,850 above sea level. Flamengo will train in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday at LDU (EQU)’s Edgardo Bauza training centre.

Winger Gonzalo Plata, back in the squad after a failed move to Dynamo Moscow, travelled but has trained little and is unlikely to be selected by head coach Leonardo Jardim. He sat out the match against Remo.

The first leg is at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, with kick-off at 21:30 Brasília time on Thursday 10. The return is on 17 September at the Maracanã, with the winners to face Corinthians or Estudiantes (ARG) in the Copa Libertadores da América 2026 semi-finals.

Source: Coluna Do Fla

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”