Fluminense face new foe, look to end unprecedented 2026 run | OneFootball

Fluminense will face a new opponent in its history in its next match of the 2026 season. The clash against Platense, from Argentina, will be Tricolor’s fourth first-ever matchup of the year and, so far, the team has not managed to beat any of the clubs it has faced for the first time this season.

The run began in April, in the Libertadores. On the 7th, Fluminense drew 0-0 with Deportivo La Guaira in Venezuela. The second first-time meeting came a few days later, again in the continental competition, but ended in defeat: 2-1 to Independiente Rivadavia on the 15th.

Still in April, Flu once again faced an opponent for the first time. In the Copa do Brasil, it drew 0-0 with Operário-PR on the 23rd. As a result, Fluminense’s first three first-ever matchups of 2026 ended with two draws and one defeat.

Now, Platense joins that list and gives Fluminense the chance to end its winless run against new opponents.

Facing clubs for the first time is nothing new for Tricolor. Since 2012, Fluminense has recorded at least one opponent it had never faced before in every season. The only recent exception was 2011.

The number reached its highest level in 2025, when Flu faced no fewer than 12 first-time opponents over the course of the year.

That season, there were six wins, three draws, and three losses against teams the club had never faced before.

Among the new opponents in 2025 were Borussia Dortmund, Mamelodi Sundowns, Al-Hilal, Chelsea, América de Cali, Lanús, and Mirassol, along with teams such as Caxias, Once Caldas, GV San José, and Aparecidense.

The track record shows that meeting a previously unknown club does not usually mean trouble for Tricolor. In 2025, in fact, the balance was positive.

In 2026, however, the picture is still different. And the match against Platense will be Fluminense’s next opportunity to change that story this season.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.