Following their triumph in the State Championship, Flamengo now turn their focus to securing silverware in Série A and the Copa Libertadores. Against Central Córdoba, it will be crucial for Flamengo to impose themselves early and generate attacking pressure, as the squad looks to consistently threaten in the opposition’s final third.
In their opening group-stage fixture of the Copa Libertadores, Flamengo edged past Deportivo Táchira with a 1:0 victory. The decisive moment came from substitute Juninho Olávio, who found the net just one minute after coming off the bench. Despite missing several key players — Danilo Luiz da Silva, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Gerson Santos, Pedro Guilherme and Matías Viña — Flamengo still managed to record 1.46 xG and 62% ball possession in San Cristóbal, demonstrating clear dominance. Earlier this week, Flamengo secured a 2:1 away win over Vitoria, once again with a crucial contribution from the bench, as Bruno Henrique made the difference.
Meanwhile, Central Córdoba have struggled to find form in the early stages of their campaign. Saturday’s 0:1 defeat to Unión Santa Fe extended their winless run to four matches. At home against LDU Quito, Central Córdoba were wasteful in front of goal, failing to convert 1.32 xG and 17 shots into a breakthrough. However, their Apertura performance shows some attacking promise, with 18 goals across 12 matches — a tally bettered only by Racing (20).
At the Maracanã, Flamengo are expected to assert their authority, but Central Córdoba’s attacking threat suggests they are capable of contributing to the scoreline. The Total Over 2.5 goals market merits consideration in what should be one of the standout fixtures of the second group-stage round in the Copa Libertadores.
