Flamengo - Lanús: Flamengo Needs Two-Goal Turnaround at Maracanã to Claim Recopa
The second leg of the Recopa Sul-Americana sees Flamengo host Lanús at the Maracanã in a winner-takes-all rematch that could decide continental bragging rights. Flamengo - Lanús kicks off at 21h30, and Flamengo must overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg to lift the trophy outright.
Flamengo - Lanús: lineups, absences and what Flamengo must do
Flamengo enters the match with a clear quantitative target: win by a margin of two goals or more. A one-goal victory would send the game to extra time and, if still level, penalties. Any draw or a Lanús win hands the title to the Argentine side. The rubro-negro coach Filipe Luís will field an almost full-strength roster after the return of Plata, who served a suspension in the away match, and the recoveries of Jorginho, Bruno Henrique and Wallace Yan from medical clearance.
Projected for the start are Rossi in goal; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro across the back; Pulgar, Paquetá and Arrascaeta in midfield; and an attacking trio of Carrascal (with Luiz Araújo or Plata as options), Cebolinha (with Lino as cover) and Pedro. Saúl remains unavailable following surgery on his left ankle.
Broadcasters for the fixture include and Disney+ Premium, and Uruguayan referee Gustavo Tejera will take charge on the field with VAR overseen by Andrés Cunha.
Nahuel Losada and Lanús' approach to defending the lead
Nahuel Losada will start in goal for Lanús. The 32-year-old, born 17 April 1993 and standing 1. 88 m, arrived at the Argentine club in July 2024 and quickly established himself as first-choice. His recent pedigree includes a decisive run in 2025 when he saved three penalties in the Copa Sul-Americana final, a contribution that helped secure that trophy for Lanús.
Lanús preserved the same starting XI that won the Sul-Americana and come into the Rio return match with momentum: just one defeat in their last seven outings. Head coach Mauricio Pellegrino has fashioned a blend of youth and experience tasked explicitly with preventing Flamengo goals and protecting the slender advantage secured in Argentina.
Stakes, refereeing and tactical implications
The concrete rules of the tie create a straightforward cause-and-effect scenario: Flamengo must score at least two more goals than Lanús to claim the Recopa without needing extra time; otherwise, a single-goal swing only forces overtime, and any failure to score leaves Lanús with the trophy. That dynamic shapes tactical choices—Flamengo is likely to push higher and risk exposing spaces, while Lanús can afford to compact and invite pressure.
What makes this notable is the contrast between Flamengo’s near-full-strength offensive options and Lanús’ continuity and defensive solidity. Flamengo’s access to returning attackers raises the probability of sustained pressure in the final third, but Lanús’ goalkeeper and experienced back line are primed to capitalize on counterattacks or set-piece scenarios that can decide a low-scoring, high-stakes match.
Officials for the match are Gustavo Tejera as referee, with assistants Nicolas Tarán and Carlos Barreiro, and VAR handled by Andrés Cunha. The appointment of an all-Uruguayan officiating team adds a neutral administrative layer to a fixture decided by narrow margins.
In tactical terms, Flamengo’s urgency to score will likely increase substitutions and attacking rotations; conversely, Lanús’ mandate to prevent goals justifies a risk-averse setup. The timing matters because early goals would force a rapid tactical reset on both sides—Flamengo to chase a second and Lanús to either protect a lead or seek a decisive counter strike.
Kickoff is set for 21h30 at the Maracanã. With the tie balanced on a single goal and decisive factors concentrated in player availability and in-game adjustments, the match will resolve which champion of the continent secures the Recopa this season.
