Flamengo need to end 2022 home Libertadores knockout jinx in 2026 | OneFootball

Flamengo has a streak to break in the 2026 Libertadores

As the reigning champion, Flamengo is chasing Brazil’s first five-time title in the Libertadores. However, the mission for the Rubro-Negro side will not be easy. Meanwhile, Fla is dealing with a streak of not playing the decisive knockout match at the Maracanã since 2022.

In short, during the campaign for their third title, in 2022, Flamengo had an almost perfect group stage. That is because the Rubro-Negro earned 16 points out of 18 possible. As a result, Fla advanced to the knockout stage as the leader of Group H.

After that, Flamengo eliminated Tolima (COL) in the Round of 16, as well as Corinthians in the quarterfinals and Vélez Sarsfield (ARG) in the semifinals. All of those good results came in front of the Rubro-Negro Nation at the Maracanã.

What streak is Flamengo trying to break in 2026?

In short, Flamengo needs to win this Thursday (16) to end a three-year drought without winning its first two Libertadores group-stage matches. The last time Fla opened the competition with two straight wins was also in 2022.

This Thursday (16), Flamengo faces Independiente Medellín (COL) in the second round of the Copa Libertadores group stage. The match kicks off at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Maracanã.

What have Fla’s recent group-stage ‘results’ in the Libertadores been?

It is worth noting that in 2023, Flamengo advanced to the Libertadores knockout stage in second place in Group A, with 11 points. On the other hand, in 2024, the Most Beloved qualified for the Round of 16 in the final round, also finishing as runner-up in Group E, with ten.

Finally, in 2025, Flamengo’s qualification for the Libertadores knockout stage was dramatic. Finishing second in Group C with 11 points, Flamengo advanced to the Round of 16 after beating Deportivo Táchira (VEN) 1-0 in the final group-stage round at the Maracanã. On that occasion, a draw would have eliminated Fla.

Now, however, Flamengo heads into its second match of the 2026 Libertadores group stage with momentum under Leonardo Jardim. That is because the Most Beloved has three straight wins (against Santos, Cusco-PER, and Fluminense), in addition to posting a 74% success rate since the arrival of the Portuguese coach, who has lost only one match in charge of Fla.

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