Mengão will push to halt the Academy in El Cilindro as they chase the top spot in Group A of the continental tournament.
On Thursday, Flamengo travels to face Racing in a match that will set the tone on the third matchday of Group A in the 2023 Libertadores Cup, a group that also includes Nublense and Aucas.
The squad led by Jorge Sampaoli enters Avellaneda with a clear mission: neutralize the Academy, which sits atop the group with a flawless record. Flamengo comes off a win at Maracanã against the Red Devils, thanks to goals from Pedro, earning their first three points after a surprising 2-1 loss to Club Idol in Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda.
Racing Club, under Fernando Gago, opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over the Chilean side at Ester Roa. Matías Rojas opened the scoring from a remarkable long-range strike of about 66 yards, with Paolo Guerrero sealing the win after the break, adding to his tally as one of Peru’s top scorers in the league (18), behind Percy Rojas (29) and Oswaldo Ramírez (27).
On the second matchday, Racing fought to a 3-2 triumph in a dramatic clash that saw them overcoming the Ecuadorian champions, turning a late rally into a second consecutive victory.
The most recent head-to-head between the two clubs occurred in December 2020 on the way to the knockout rounds. In Rio de Janeiro, they finished regulation time level at 1-1 (William Arão and Leonardo Sigali scoring) after a draw in the return leg at El Cilindro.
That tie was decided by penalties, with Flamengo, then under Sebastián Beccacece, advancing 5-3 thanks to a standout performance by Gabriel Arias. The current Libertadores champions had played with ten men after Rodrigo Caio’s sending-off at the 63rd minute.
In head-to-head CONMEBOL play, Flamengo has not tasted defeat against Racing. Across four meetings, the results show three draws and one Flamengo win—the 1992 Super Cup semi-final and the mentioned decisive encounter forming the bulk of that history.
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Flamengo:
Saints; Wesley, Fabrício Bruno, Leo Pereira; Ayrton Lucas, Arturo Vidal, Thiago Maia, Everton Ribeiro, Everton Cebolinha (Erick Pulgar); Gabigol and Pedro. DT: Jorge Sampaoli.
To race:
Gabriel Arias; Iván Pillud, Leonardo Sigali, Emiliano Insúa, Gabriel Rojas; Aníbal Moreno, Tomás Avilés, Nicolas Oroz, Matías Rojas; Paolo Guerrero and Gabriel Hauche. DT: Fernando Gago.
Notes: The teams bring experienced squads with a mix of domestic and international titles, aiming to control the midfield, exploit wide channels, and capitalize on set-piece opportunities. The tactical matchup is set to unfold with Flamengo pressing high to disrupt Racing’s buildup while Racing seeks quick transitions to unlock the Flamengo back line. The atmosphere in Avellaneda and the strategic importance of Group A add to the intensity of this continental duel.