Flamengo out: Estudiantes win shootout at Maracana to reach Libertadores final
By Rohan SalujaGeopolitics Editor, Peepals Global
File photo: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Ten-man Estudiantes beat Flamengo 3-2 on penalties at the Maracana on 22 October 2026 after a 0-0 draw, setting up a Copa Libertadores final against Palmeiras on 28 November.
What Happened
Brazil's Flamengo were knocked out of the 2026 Copa Libertadores semi-finals on Thursday, 22 October 2026, losing 3-2 on penalties to Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The second leg ended 0-0, as had the first, even though Estudiantes played most of the second half with ten men after Baltasar Rodriguez was sent off. Estudiantes goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved three penalties in the shootout. Estudiantes will play Palmeiras of Brazil in the final on 28 November at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Key Facts
- Result: Flamengo 0, Estudiantes 0 in the second leg; Estudiantes won the penalty shootout 3-2. The first leg had also ended 0-0.
- Venue and date: the Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Thursday 22 October 2026.
- Red card: Estudiantes' Baltasar Rodriguez was sent off early in the second half, leaving his team a man short for more than 40 minutes.
- Shootout: Muslera saved kicks from Jorginho, Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Henrique. Jose Sosa, Eros Mancuso and Tiago Palacios scored for Estudiantes.
- Final: Estudiantes against Palmeiras on Saturday, 28 November, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Palmeiras reached the final a day earlier by beating Fluminense on penalties.
- The result means the final will not be an all-Brazilian match.
Why It Matters
The Copa Libertadores is South America's equivalent of the UEFA Champions League, the competition every major club on the continent most wants to win. Brazilian clubs, backed by larger budgets than most of their neighbours, have won it regularly in recent years, and an all-Brazilian final had looked likely once Palmeiras went through. Estudiantes' win at the Maracana, one of football's best-known stadiums and Flamengo's home ground, stops that.
The manner of the win stood out. Holding a 0-0 draw away from home for more than 40 minutes with ten players requires disciplined defending, and Estudiantes then relied on their goalkeeper. Muslera, an experienced Uruguayan international who spent many seasons in European football, saved three of Flamengo's kicks, including one from Lucas Paqueta, a midfielder who has played in the English Premier League and for Brazil.
For Flamengo, one of Brazil's most popular clubs, the defeat ends their run in the tournament at home and in front of their own fans after two goalless games. The club's attacking players could not break down a side with one fewer player for a large part of the second half.
The final adds an Argentina-against-Brazil edge to the season's biggest club match in South America and will be played in Montevideo, a neutral venue chosen in advance by CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation.
| Stage | Result |
|---|---|
| Semi-final, first leg | Estudiantes 0, Flamengo 0 |
| Semi-final, second leg (22 Oct, Maracana) | Flamengo 0, Estudiantes 0; Estudiantes win 3-2 on penalties |
| Other semi-final | Palmeiras beat Fluminense on penalties |
| Final | Estudiantes v Palmeiras, 28 Nov, Estadio Centenario, Montevideo |
Impact
Short-term: Estudiantes will be without Rodriguez for at least the next match under the usual suspension rules, subject to CONMEBOL's decision. Flamengo turn their attention to the domestic league for the rest of the season.
Long-term: The winner of the final earns South America's place in FIFA's club competitions and a large prize, giving whichever side lifts the trophy a significant boost in revenue and global profile.
Who is affected: Players, coaches and supporters of Estudiantes, Flamengo and Palmeiras; broadcasters and sponsors of the tournament; and fans travelling to Montevideo for the final.
Key Takeaway
Estudiantes, with ten men for much of the second half and three penalty saves from Fernando Muslera, knocked Flamengo out at the Maracana on 22 October 2026 and will face Palmeiras for the Copa Libertadores title on 28 November.
Questions and Answers
Did Flamengo qualify for the 2026 Copa Libertadores final?
No. Flamengo lost 3-2 on penalties to Estudiantes de La Plata at the Maracana on 22 October 2026 after both semi-final legs ended 0-0.
Who saved the penalties for Estudiantes?
Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved three, from Jorginho, Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Henrique.
Who will Estudiantes play in the final, and when?
Palmeiras of Brazil, on Saturday, 28 November 2026, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Why did Estudiantes play with ten men?
Baltasar Rodriguez was sent off early in the second half, leaving Estudiantes a man short for more than 40 minutes.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Rohan Saluja, Geopolitics EditorCovers Geopolitics and more for Peepals Global. All stories by Rohan Saluja
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