The first leg of the 2025 Copa Libertadores quarter-final between Flamengo (Brazil) and Estudiantes (Argentina) will take place on September 19 at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Flamengo vs. Estudiantes: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Flamengo
The Brazilians narrowly advanced to the Copa Libertadores playoffs, but they confidently defeated their fellow countrymen from Internacional in the Round of 16. Both matches in the previous round ended in victories with a total score of 3-0. In fact, Flamengo has won four consecutive matches in this tournament, all with clean sheets. The club's unbeaten streak in the Copa Libertadores has reached six games (4 wins, 2 draws). Thanks to these results, the team has reached the quarter-finals of the tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons. In 2021 and 2022, Flamengo won silver and gold in the Copa Libertadores, respectively, but has not progressed beyond the quarter-finals since then.
- At least one team failed to score in 5 of Flamengo's last 6 matches in the Copa Libertadores.
- The club has won 21 of their last 23 home matches in this tournament.
- The Brazilians have scored in 22 of their last 23 home games in the Copa Libertadores.
Predicted lineup for Flamengo (4-2-3-1)
Agustín Rossi – Emerson Royal, Danilo, Léo Pereira, Ayrton Lucas – Allan, Saúl – Luiz Araújo, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Samuel Lino – Johnny Cardinoti Pedro.
The main defender Alex Sandro may return to the lineup after an injury.
Estudiantes
The Argentinians finished first in their group in the Copa Libertadores, even surpassing Botafogo, the tournament's defending champions. However, the battle against Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño in the Round of 16 was very tense, with the outcome decided by a single goal from Estudiantes, scored at the very end of the first game in Asunción. A goalless draw in the return match ended their uncompromising streak, which lasted seven matches (5 wins, 2 losses). In the Copa Libertadores, the team is unbeaten in three consecutive matches. Reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament is a significant achievement for Estudiantes, as the club has reached this stage only three times in the last 15 years. They have not progressed further since 2009, when the Argentinians won the trophy.
- Estudiantes have scored in 9 of their last 10 games in the Copa Libertadores.
- The team has not lost in 7 of their last 9 matches in this tournament (5 wins, 2 draws).
- The club has won with a handicap (+1.5) in 18 consecutive matches in the Copa Libertadores.
Predicted lineup for Estudiantes (4-2-3-1)
Fernando Muslera – Román Gómez, Leandro González Pirez, Facundo Rodríguez, Santiago Arzamendia – Santiago Ascacibar, Mikel Amondarain – Thiago Palacios, Alexis Castro, José Sosa – Facundo Farías.
Due to injuries, defender Eric Mesa and forward Joaquín Tobio Burgos will not be available for the team.
Referee
Andres Rojas (Colombia)
Matches – 7 (International matches, 2025);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 36;
Average yellow cards per match – 5.1;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 27;
Penalties – 14%.
Flamengo vs. Estudiantes: Match Prediction
In this pairing, two of the most reliable clubs in the current Copa Libertadores will face off. Flamengo conceded only three goals in eight matches on their way to the quarter-finals – the best result in the tournament. Before the first meeting with Estudiantes, the Brazilians played four consecutive matches without conceding. However, it should be noted that the team is not very prolific in attack. In 9 of their last 11 Copa Libertadores games, Flamengo scored a maximum of one goal. As a result, no more than two goals were scored in the club's last six matches in this tournament.
Estudiantes have conceded five goals in eight matches in this season's Copa Libertadores, keeping clean sheets in six of those games. The current unbeaten streak for the Argentinians in the tournament stands at three matches, all played without conceding. Even on foreign soil, the team rarely collapses defensively; in 8 of their last 9 away matches in the Copa Libertadores, Estudiantes did not concede more than one goal, and in 7 of those matches, a maximum of two goals were scored.
I think it's unlikely that Flamengo and Estudiantes will suddenly become prolific in their head-to-head meeting, so my prediction is Total under 2.5 goals.
