Planning to watch Flamengo - Cruzeiro in the Copa Libertadores round-of-16 second leg at Maracanã on 19 August 2026? Prepare your trip to Rio de Janeiro, check the latest team and transport information, and plan your ticket purchase for a night that decides a quarter-final place
Flamengo - Cruzeiro: Maracanã decides who continues the fight for the trophy
Flamengo and Cruzeiro enter the second leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 with enough shared history that Maracanã needs no additional drama. This is the second part of the Brazilian knockout-stage clash, and the winner will secure a place in the quarter-finals and a meeting with the better team from the Independiente del Valle - Tolima tie. The first match is being played at Mineirão on August 12. At the time of the final data check for this guide, that match had already started but had not finished, which is why no temporary score that could become outdated before publication is given here.
The second leg is played at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Flamengo gets familiar surroundings and enormous support from the stands there, but Cruzeiro already has very concrete proof that it can cope with the home team at this stadium in an elimination match. In the same stage of this competition in 2018, Cruzeiro won 2-0 at Maracanã and then advanced despite a 0-1 defeat in Belo Horizonte.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters. For travelers coming to Rio de Janeiro, it is more important to plan the entire evening, not just the start of the match: entering the stadium, traffic restrictions around Maracanã and the journey back after the final whistle can be just as important as choosing a section in the stands.
What is at stake for Flamengo and Cruzeiro
This is not merely a clash between two clubs from the same league. Flamengo finished the group stage in first place in its group with 16 points and without a defeat, while Cruzeiro advanced as the runner-up in its group with 11 points. That created an interesting contrast: Flamengo had a more secure route to the knockout stage in the continental competition, but Cruzeiro enters the elimination phase with a coach who knows the demands of such matches very well.
Artur Jorge took over Cruzeiro at the beginning of April and, heading into the first match against Flamengo, had 14 wins in 24 matches. His team entered August with results that boosted confidence, including a 3-1 league victory over Mirassol and progress in the domestic cup after a win over Chapecoense.
In the domestic league before this two-legged tie, Flamengo was second with 42 points from 21 matches, six points behind leaders Palmeiras, with a game in hand. Cruzeiro was fifth with 33 points from 22 matches. This means that both clubs have serious domestic objectives, but the Copa Libertadores gained additional importance for Flamengo after its elimination from the domestic cup.
- Flamengo: 2nd place in the Brasileiro, 42 points from 21 matches.
- Cruzeiro: 5th place in the Brasileiro, 33 points from 22 matches.
- Flamengo: 16 points and first place in its Copa Libertadores group.
- Cruzeiro: 11 points and second place in its group.
- Artur Jorge: 14 wins in his first 24 matches in charge of Cruzeiro.
Leonardo Jardim against the club he recently managed
One of the most interesting stories of the tie is Leonardo Jardim. Flamengo's current coach managed Cruzeiro last season, with whom he finished third in the Brasileiro and reached the semi-finals of the domestic cup. In March 2026, he took over Flamengo. This means that in this elimination tie he knows not only the names of the opposing players but also their habits, profiles and part of the process through which the team was built.
Cruzeiro changed under Artur Jorge after his departure, so Jardim has detailed knowledge of the opposing players, but he is not facing exactly the same team he left.
For the first match at Mineirão, Jardim selected Agustín Rossi in goal, a defense consisting of Emerson Royal, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas, a midfield of Erick Pulgar - Jorginho - Giorgian De Arrascaeta and an attacking trio of Gonzalo Plata - Bruno Henrique - Samuel Lino. Pedro, Flamengo's top scorer of the season, started on the bench, while Bruno Henrique was given the role of central striker.
That is an important signal for the second leg. Flamengo can choose between the depth offered by Bruno Henrique and Pedro's more traditional presence in the penalty area, while Arrascaeta searches for space between the lines.
Kaio Jorge, Matheus Pereira and Gerson carry Cruzeiro's greatest burden
Cruzeiro started the first match with Otávio in goal, William, Fabrício Bruno, Jonathan Jesus and Gabriel Rojas in defense, followed by Matheus Henrique, Gerson and Matheus Pereira in midfield and Keny Arroyo, Wesley and Kaio Jorge up front.
Ahead of the first match, Kaio Jorge was Cruzeiro's top scorer of the season with 15 goals. Cruzeiro needs finishing from him, but also the ability to hold up the ball under pressure from Flamengo's center-backs. Matheus Pereira leads the creative phase, while Gerson provides the ability to carry the ball through midfield and escape pressure. His return to Maracanã against his former club will further increase the attention from the stands.
In the first match, Cruzeiro had to play without the suspended Fagner and Lucas Romero. Flamengo arrived in Belo Horizonte without Alex Sandro, Everton Cebolinha and Vitão, while Luiz Araújo was in the process of returning from injury and was not among the traveling squad. Their status for the second leg should not automatically be declared the same: there is a week between the two matches, so player availability must be checked again closer to the match at Maracanã.
Head-to-head knockout ties contain enough warnings for both sides
The history of elimination matches between Flamengo and Cruzeiro is not one-sided. According to ge's overview, before this tie the clubs had played 17 matches in official knockout encounters. Flamengo won six, Cruzeiro four, and seven ended in draws. Looking at which team ultimately advanced from the entire tie or won the final, Cruzeiro had five successful eliminations and Flamengo four.
- 17 head-to-head matches in official knockout ties before the current round of 16.
- 6 Flamengo wins, 4 Cruzeiro wins and 7 draws in those matches.
- Cruzeiro advanced or won 5 such ties, Flamengo 4.
- In the 2018 round of 16, Cruzeiro won 2-0 at Maracanã and advanced despite a 0-1 defeat in the second leg.
It is particularly interesting that one of Cruzeiro's scorers in the 2018 victory at Maracanã was Giorgian De Arrascaeta. Today he is one of Flamengo's main creative figures. That detail clearly shows how much the teams have changed, but also why the history of this matchup is not useful as a simple argument about the "favorite." Rather, it is a warning that home advantage alone does not decide an elimination tie.
How the second leg could look tactically
The most important factor will be the final result of the first match. The team that arrives at Maracanã with an advantage will be able to choose its moments to take risks, while the other will have to open up space earlier. Without that completed result, it makes no sense to write in advance that Flamengo "must attack" or that Cruzeiro "must defend."
Nevertheless, some tendencies are visible. Flamengo under Jardim has players suited to longer spells of possession, but also enough speed to attack as soon as it wins the ball. Jorginho and Pulgar can control the first phase of possession, Arrascaeta can link midfield with attack, while Plata, Samuel Lino and Bruno Henrique can attack the space behind the full-backs. Pedro provides a different type of threat if the match demands more crosses and play inside the penalty area.
Cruzeiro will try to prevent the match from turning into long periods of defending directly in front of its own penalty area. Matheus Henrique and Gerson are important for that, because progressing through midfield can force Flamengo to retreat toward its own goal. Matheus Pereira needs to receive the ball high enough up the pitch so that Kaio Jorge does not remain isolated between the center-backs.
Maracanã: a stadium that amplifies every moment
MetrôRio describes Maracanã as a stadium with a capacity of more than 78 thousand spectators. For a match of this profile, a large influx of spectators should be expected at the stations serving the different sectors of the stadium.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly. Supporters visiting Maracanã for the first time should check in advance which entrance corresponds to their section, because this also determines the most practical station for arrival.
- For entrances A, B and C, MetrôRio recommends the Rei Pelé - Maracanã station on line 2.
- For entrances D, E and F, São Cristóvão station on line 2 is recommended.
- Maracanã railway station is connected to several suburban routes and is integrated with the metro.
- For the return journey after the match, the special transport timetable for that day should be checked instead of relying solely on standard operating hours.
Arrival, traffic and parking around the stadium
For a visitor without local experience, the metro is the simplest starting option. Maracanã is located in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro and is connected to the city's railway and metro systems. Choosing the station according to the entrance reduces the need to walk around the complex immediately before kick-off.
Arriving by car requires greater caution. For several major matches at Maracanã in August, CET-Rio introduced special traffic arrangements, street closures and parking bans around the stadium. In operations for Flamengo - Vitória on August 9 and Fluminense - Independiente Rivadavia on August 11, restrictions covered Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo, parts of Avenida Maracanã and other access routes to the complex. This does not mean that the arrangements for Flamengo - Cruzeiro will be identical, but it shows why it is unwise to count on parking directly next to the stadium without checking the traffic plan for the specific day.
The opening time of the gates for this specific match was not confirmed in the sources checked for the guide, so it should not be guessed. It is sensible to arrive with a large time buffer, especially because of entrance checks, congestion at stations and possible traffic diversions.
Atmosphere: home advantage with a historical warning
At Maracanã, Flamengo will have the advantage of a familiar stadium and a crowd capable of raising the intensity after every won duel, pressing action or chance. If the home team creates early pressure, Cruzeiro will have to remain calm in its first passes and avoid allowing a few lost balls to turn the stands into an additional source of momentum.
On the other hand, Cruzeiro's 2-0 victory at the same stadium in the 2018 round of 16 will be a reminder that a scenario in which the visiting team takes control of the tie has already happened here. Artur Jorge's team is not coming merely to defend tradition, but to try to build its own result through midfield with Gerson and Matheus Pereira and through Kaio Jorge's finishing.
What to check immediately before departure
Lineups and players' health status can change during the week between the two matches. Particular attention should be paid to whether Flamengo gets back any of the players who were unavailable for the first match and whether Cruzeiro has any new suspensions or health problems after Mineirão.
The traffic plan for the area around Maracanã is also worth checking on matchday. For major matches, the city often publishes special traffic arrangements, and these can also affect taxis, app-based ride services and the location where it is practical to arrange the return journey.
It is worth securing tickets in good time. After that, the most important thing is to match the section on the ticket with the appropriate entrance and station, leave enough time for security checks and plan the return journey before heading toward the stadium.
Sources:
- UOL Esporte - group-stage qualification, team situation before the first match, the context of Leonardo Jardim and Artur Jorge's record.
- Folha de S.Paulo and Meu Timão - current Brasileiro standings before the first match.
- ge - history of Flamengo - Cruzeiro knockout ties, 2018 results and confirmed information about the starting lineups.
- CNN Brasil - confirmed Flamengo absences for the first match, lineups and the season performance of key attackers.
- MetrôRio - Maracanã capacity, recommended stations and entrances according to sectors.
- SuperVia - information about Maracanã railway station and connections with urban transport.
- CET-Rio - traffic operations and parking bans around Maracanã for major matches played in August 2026.