In-form Independiente Rivadavia eye Libertadores upset at Maracanã | OneFootball

The Mendoza-based Lepra, leaders of their group and in great form, visit a struggling Brazilian side that has yet to win in the tournament.

Independiente Rivadavia will visit Fluminense this Wednesday from 9:30 p.m. at the Maracanã Stadium for the second matchday of Group C in the 2026 Copa Libertadores. The team managed by Alfredo Berti will look to make another statement in the competition after a historic debut, against an opponent arriving under pressure.

The Brazilian side is not going through its best moment. It is coming off a loss in the derby against Flamengo and also failed to win in its Copa Libertadores opener, drawing 0-0 with Deportivo La Guaira in Venezuela. With just one point in the group, Luis Zubeldía’s team is obliged to win to avoid complicating its qualification hopes.

By contrast, Lepra is enjoying a dream run. It won its Libertadores debut against Bolívar and is also on a positive streak in the domestic tournament, where it has emerged as one of the main contenders. This great run has placed it at the top of the group and allows it to arrive with confidence at a demanding stage such as the Maracanã.

The Mendoza team has built a clear identity, with tactical flexibility and wing play that can hurt opponents. Players such as Sebastián Villa and Alex Arce appear as key attacking pieces, while collective solidity has become its main strength. On Fluminense’s side, chance creation will rest on names like Ganso, as they look to regain prominence.

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