Maracanã hosts decisive Flamengo v Cruzeiro Libertadores return leg after four-year wait | OneFootball

Flamengo host Cruzeiro at the Maracanã on Wednesday for the Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg, a decisive tie. According to Coluna Do Fla, it ends a four-year wait for the club to decide a knockout stage at home.

The last home decider came in the 2022 semi-final, a 2-1 win over Vélez Sarsfield at the Maracanã.

Since then the decisive legs were away, against Olimpia in 2023, Bolívar and Peñarol in 2024, then Internacional, Estudiantes and Racing in 2025, with scorelines 3-1, 1-0, 0-0, 0-2, 1-0 and 0-0 respectively.

Those away deciders followed group-stage second-place finishes in the past three editions, with Racing, Bolívar and LDU leading the groups in 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively. This year Flamengo topped their section ahead of Estudiantes, Independiente Medellín and Cusco.

Leonardo Jardim has announced Flamengo’s starting XI for Wednesday. Artur Jorge has also named his Cruzeiro side.

Cruzeiro arrive encouraged by a 2-1 win at Corinthians in the Brasileirão’s 23rd round. Flamengo beat Mirassol 5-1 in their last league outing and will have the home crowd behind them as they pursue a quarter-final place.

Kick-off is at 21:30, Brasília time, at the Maracanã on Wednesday.

Source: Coluna Do Fla

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