Lanús - Flamengo: Recopa first leg in Argentina sees key absences and tactical choices

Lanús - Flamengo meet in the Recopa Sul-Americana first leg in Argentina at 7: 30 p. m. ET. The match opens a two-legged tie that carries renewed urgency for Flamengo after a rocky start to the season, while Lanús arrives with recent physical concerns in attack and midfield.

Lineups, absences and match context for Lanús - Flamengo

The game will be played at La Fortaleza and the referee named for the fixture is Alexis Herrera (Venezuela), with Carlos Orbe on VAR. Both teams retained most of their title-winning cores from last year, but each side faces notable absences that shape expected selections.

Lanús will be without starting center forward Rodrigo Castillo, who is sidelined with an edema in his left thigh; Walter Bou is the most likely replacement. Midfielder Marcelino Moreno is a doubt due to pain in the upper part of his foot and could be replaced by Franco Watson if he cannot start. Lanús’ probable lineup reflected these changes: Losada; Guidara, Izquierdoz, Canale, Marcich; Medina, Agustín Cardozo, Salvio, Marcelino Moreno (Franco Watson), Carrera; Walter Bou.

Flamengo travel without Jorginho, who missed time after reporting muscular pain in his left thigh following the Supercopa match against Corinthians; imaging confirmed an injury and he did not recover in time for this trip. Other Flamengo absences include Plata, who must serve one more match of suspension tied to an expulsion in the Libertadores semifinal, while Saúl and Wallace Yan are also unavailable with injury complaints. The likely Flamengo eleven listed for the clash shows Rossi in goal, a back five of Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro, a midfield trio of Pulgar, Paquetá and Arrascaeta, and an attack featuring Carrascal (or Luiz Araújo), Cebolinha and Pedro.

Flamengo’s short route to a trophy and tactical implications

For Flamengo, the Recopa represents a short route to silverware in a season that has already seen stumbles: the team lost the Supercopa and endured an unstable start in the state competition before stringing together a recovery with three consecutive wins. Coach Filipe Luís has framed the Recopa as a priority to avoid repeating the blank-season frustration of the past, and selection decisions are being adjusted with that objective in mind.

With Jorginho out, Flamengo’s right flank options include Paquetá, Carrascal or Luiz Araújo. If the coach opts for the Colombian or Luiz Araújo on the wing, Paquetá could be deployed in a more withdrawn role as a second midfielder. Alternatively, if Paquetá is chosen for the flank, Evertton Araújo is expected to pair with Pulgar in the midfield double pivot. Those permutations reflect a balancing act between maintaining attacking fluidity and shoring up the center of the park given the absences.

Lanús, on its part, arrives buoyed by last season’s Copa Sudamericana title and has kept its core intact. However, the recent run of three matches without victory raises questions about momentum. The potential absence of Marcelino Moreno would be significant: he has been a central figure for the team, and his availability will shape how Lanús approaches possession and chance creation against Flamengo’s experienced midfield.

With the second leg scheduled to follow at Maracanã, both teams are conscious that the result in Argentina will set the tone for the return. Flamengo seeks to put a trophy on the board early in the campaign and to avoid the type of season that followed major successes, while Lanús aims for an historic first Recopa and must manage its injury doubts to protect home advantage in the opening match.

Expect tactical caution mixed with selective ambition from both sides: Flamengo juggling recovery and rotation without Jorginho, and Lanús coping with the possible loss of key offensive and midfield pieces as they chase continental silverware.