In La Plata, where Estudiantes made every aerial ball and second phase of play count, Flamengo emerged from the first leg of the 2026 Copa Libertadores semi-final with a 0-0 draw and the advantage of taking the decision back to Rio de Janeiro. The reigning South American champions were far from fluent, yet a home win at the Maracanã next week will be enough to send them into another continental final.
Key takeaways
- Estudiantes and Flamengo drew 0-0 in Argentina in the opening match of their Libertadores semi-final.
- Flamengo will progress with a one-goal victory in next week’s return fixture at the Maracanã.
- The hosts repeatedly threatened through direct passes, crosses and set pieces, without finding a finish.
- Leonardo Jardim started Emerson Royal and Bruno Henrique, while Varela and Pedro began among the substitutes.
- Estudiantes were without regular centre-back González Pirez, new signing Marcos Rojo and Tomás Palácios.
Flamengo withstand a familiar night in La Plata
It was another uncomfortable visit to Estudiantes for Flamengo, who had already needed penalties to get through an Argentine test in last season’s Libertadores. This time, there was no shootout and no breakthrough, only a scoreless result that leaves the tie finely poised before the second leg.
Alexander Medina’s side had clear absences in defence. Funes Mori was selected at centre-back after González Pirez, Rojo and Tomás Palácios were all ruled out. Further forward, Tiago Palácios returned from injury and operated closer to Carrillo.
Jardim reshaped his own team around unavailable pair Jorginho and Arrascaeta, bringing Saúl and Lucas Paquetá into midfield. Emerson Royal and Bruno Henrique came into the Libertadores starting line-up, with Varela and Pedro held back on the bench.
Estudiantes followed a recognisable route: early balls towards Carrillo, delivery into the box from open play and dead-ball situations, and a determination to turn Flamengo towards their own goal. Carrillo was asked to win headers, flick possession on or attack the target himself, and Flamengo spent longer defending those sequences than they would have wanted.
The visitors enjoyed possession but did little with it in the first half. Their two attempts before the interval caused no real concern, even though Saúl was involved on both occasions after arriving nearer the penalty area. Paquetá, Bruno Henrique, Samuel Lino and Carrascal struggled to produce sustained quality against an aggressive home marking scheme.
There were warnings at the other end. Léo Pereira blocked Tiago Palácios’ close-range effort, while Santiago Núñez and Carrillo created problems in the air from restarts. Baltasar Rodríguez also tested Agustín Rossi from outside the area. Flamengo used Pulgar, Saúl and Carrascal as blockers against Estudiantes’ principal headers, but remained uneasy whenever corners arrived.
Carrascal and Lino improved after the half-hour mark, providing some overdue momentum in attack. Emerson Royal eventually found opportunities to advance, while Alex Sandro combined dependable defending with more consistent work down the left. Paquetá’s execution declined as the half went on, however, and Bruno Henrique found no joy against the home central defenders.
Paraguayan referee Juan Gabriel Benítez took time to clamp down on Estudiantes’ physical approach. The home team committed more than twice as many fouls as Flamengo before half-time, with Castro and Piovi not booked until after the 35-minute mark.
Late pressure leaves the return leg open
The pattern barely changed after the break. Flamengo competed hard and at times pushed their possession higher up the pitch, but technical mistakes prevented the visitors from converting territory into chances. Those losses of control also offered Estudiantes transitions, particularly down the right through Mancuso, who delivered two driven shots across goal and one dangerous low cross.
Núñez again headed dangerously from a set piece as the hosts maintained their threat. Medina then reintroduced Correa, formerly of Botafogo, in place of Tiago Palácios. Monsalve, who previously played for Grêmio, and Cetré followed, replacing Baltasar Rodríguez and Tobio Burgos.
Estudiantes increased their pressure as the closing stages approached, again occupying areas around Flamengo’s box without changing the basic formula of crosses and direct balls. Alex Sandro made a vital intervention to deny Núñez what looked set to be a decisive goal.
Jardim waited until the 79th minute for his first changes, replacing Bruno Henrique and Samuel Lino with Pedro and Plata. Freitas then came on for Paquetá in Flamengo’s final alteration. The fresh legs helped the visitors regain enough possession in advanced areas to reduce the intensity of Estudiantes’ final push.
The draw means Estudiantes must now reproduce the away wins that carried them through the round of 16 and quarter-finals if they are to reach the final. Flamengo, meanwhile, return to Rio with the result intact but with ample reason to improve their attacking clarity before the Maracanã decides the contest.
