Recopa Sudamericana Preview: Lanús Face Flamengo In Battle Of Continental Champions | OneFootball

The 2026 Recopa Sudamericana final takes place on Thursday evening as Argentinian side Lanús host Brazilian outfit Flamengo in the first leg of the final.

The unique thing about this competition is that it replicates the old, historic Copa Libertadores format, where the finals were played over two legs.

The Recopa Sudamericana remains the only competition that still stands by the traditional two-legged final format, preserving a piece of South American football history in an era that has shifted towards one-off showpiece events.

The last meeting between these sides came back in 2012 in the Copa Libertadores. The first encounter in the group stage saw Lanús earn a 1-1 draw against Flamengo, before the side from Rio de Janeiro responded with a dominant 3-0 victory on home soil in the return fixture.

However, despite that convincing win, Flamengo were eliminated at the group stage and failed to progress any further in the competition.

Lanús, meanwhile, advanced to the knockout rounds but were eventually eliminated by Flamengo’s bitter rivals Vasco da Gama, losing on penalties in the next stage.

Lanús

Lanús booked their place in the Recopa Sudamericana final by lifting the Copa Sudamericana.  They progressed through the group stage, finishing top of their group, before eliminating Central Córdoba, Fluminense, and Universidad de Chile on their way to the final.

In the final, they faced Atlético Mineiro, and after a tense and cagey contest finished 0-0, Lanús prevailed 5-4 on penalties. It was a match that lacked quality in front of goal but was brought to life by the raucous atmosphere in Asunción, created by the passionate Argentine and Brazilian supporters.

In 2026, Lanús have played six matches, winning three, drawing two, and losing one. However, their recent form has not been as strong as they would have hoped, with their last three matches resulting in two draws and one defeat.

Heading into this fixture, they faced Independiente and suffered a 2-0 defeat, conceding both goals in the second half in what was a frustrating performance.

Lanús have competed in this competition once before, following their Copa Sudamericana triumph in 2013. On that occasion, they faced Atlético Mineiro in the Recopa Sudamericana but suffered a 5-3 aggregate defeat after extra time.

It was a hard-fought tie, but ultimately the Brazilian side’s quality proved decisive, denying Lanús the chance to add another continental title to their history.

Despite that, having already beaten Vasco da Gama to secure top spot in their group, as well as overcoming Fluminense in the Copa Sudamericana last season, Lanús will feel confident heading into this final. They will now be hoping to add Flamengo to that list and further strengthen what is already a historic run for the club.

Lanús Team News

Lanús rested several key players in their most recent match, with Marcelino Moreno and Rodrigo Castillo both rested against Independiente as the club prioritises their push for silverware.

Both players are expected to return to the starting lineup, and head coach Mauricio Pellegrino has almost a full squad available at his disposal.

The only absentee is Raúl Loaiza, who remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

Flamengo

Flamengo are the current holders of the Copa Libertadores, which secured their place in this competition. They also featured in the 2025 Intercontinental Cup, where they were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain after a penalty shootout.

Their start to 2026, however, has not gone entirely to plan. They suffered defeat in the Supercopa do Brasil, losing 2-0 to Corinthians in Brasília. Their league campaign also began below expectations, with a 2-1 defeat to São Paulo in their opening match, followed by a frustrating 1-1 draw against Internacional.

There was some redemption in their third league match, as they secured a 2-1 victory away at Vitória, showing signs of improvement.

More recently, Flamengo booked their place in the semi-finals of the Campeonato Carioca with a 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Botafogo. Goals from Lucas Paquetá, the most expensive signing in Brazilian football history, and Erick Pulgar sealed an important win and provided a timely confidence boost ahead of the Recopa Sudamericana final.

In 2025, the Rubro Negro progressed through their Copa Libertadores group stage, narrowly finishing second in Group C ahead of Argentinian side Central Córdoba on goal difference.

They then defeated Internacional, Estudiantes, and Racing in the knockout rounds to reach the final.

In the final, they faced Palmeiras and secured a 1-0 victory in Lima, with a decisive header from Danilo proving to be the difference and sealing Flamengo’s place as champions of South America once again.

Flamengo hold a solid record against Argentine opposition. Across 76 matches against sides from Argentina, they have won 33, drawn 23 and lost 20.

Flamengo previously won this competition in the 2020 Recopa Sudamericana, defeating Independiente del Valle 5-2 on aggregate to lift the trophy.

However, in the 2023 edition, Independiente del Valle gained their revenge. After the tie finished 1-1 on aggregate, the Ecuadorian side prevailed in a penalty shootout.

Flamengo Team News

Flamengo have received some positive injury news ahead of the match. Pedro, who had complained of discomfort following their recent Carioca fixture, has been cleared of any serious injury and is available for selection by Filipe Luís.

Uruguayan full-back Guillermo Varela has also returned after recovering from an ankle issue, providing another boost to the squad.

Jorginho and Saúl remain the only unavailable players for the Rubro-Negro, as they continue their recovery.