Flamengo Vs Lanús: Lanús Hold 1-0 Lead as Recopa Sudamericana Comes to the Maracanã

flamengo vs lanús moves to the Maracanã for the second leg of the 2026 CONMEBOL Recopa Sudamericana with Lanús carrying a 1-0 advantage from the first meeting. The return game is decisive: Lanús can secure the club’s first Recopa with a draw, while Flamengo must overturn the deficit by a two-goal margin to avoid penalties.

Maracanã and kick-off timing

The second leg is set for the Maracanã, but the exact kick-off time is inconsistent in the available accounts. One listing gives Thursday at 21: 30, while another lists 27 February 2026 at 00: 30, making the precise start time unclear in the provided context. What is certain is the match will determine whether Flamengo can erase the 1-0 deficit set in Argentina and force a different outcome on home soil.

Rodrigo Castillo and the La Fortaleza first leg

Lanús claimed a narrow victory in the first leg at La Fortaleza in Argentina, with Rodrigo Castillo converting the match’s only goal. The context records that the goal came from a header and that Castillo had two earlier efforts ruled out before converting on a later major chance; however, sources within the material list the timing of that goal as either the 76th or the 77th minute, so the exact minute is unclear in the provided context.

Flamengo possession, finishing and lineup notes

Flamengo dominated possession in the first leg, controlling 65% of the ball, yet managed just one shot on target. Jorge Carrascal started as the striker in that match, with midfield featuring Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Erick Pulgar and record signing Lucas Paquetá. For the second leg, Filipe Luís has shuffled his personnel: Saúl Ñíguez and Jorginho are absent, and the coach has opted to leave Lucas Paquetá and Alex Sandro on the bench in pursuit of a more aggressive setup intended to break Lanús’s defensive lock.

Lanús coaching, personnel and tactics

Mauricio Pellegrino’s Lanús side will again rely on defensive organization and on the speed of Salvio when launching counters. Nahuel Losada is set to retain the goalkeeping duties for Lanús. The Argentine visitors approach the Maracanã with a tactical plan built around structure and selective transition play, and the team believes its performance in Argentina—where it fed off the atmosphere—gives it an edge heading into the return match.

Stakes for Flamengo and historical context

For Flamengo, the pressure is compounded. The club lost the Brazilian Supercup recently and now faces what has been characterized as a climate of maximum tension. To avoid the tie being decided on penalties, Flamengo must win by two goals in the second leg; otherwise a one-goal victory would lead to spot-kicks. The material notes a longer-term issue: a negative comeback streak that has persisted since 2022, a pattern the team is desperate to reverse at home.

Broader South American football notes and domestic headlines

Beyond the Recopa, several domestic stories figure in the region’s week. National team manager Carlo Ancelotti is noted as enjoying Carnaval. In São Paulo’s state competition, Novorizontino—a Série B side—defeated Santos in the knockout phase, a result that deepens concerns about Santos’s season and its perceived relegation risk despite past contributions from Neymar. Neymar’s performances helped Santos last year, but the squad is described as deeply flawed; he has said he may retire from football with Santos at the end of the year. A 19-year-old named Souza departed for Tottenham Hotspur in the recent transfer window.

Novorizontino joined the semifinals of the São Paulo state tournament alongside Corinthians, Palmeiras and São Paulo. Corinthians advanced on penalties over Portuguesa, and São Paulo beat RB Bragantino 2-1 with a goal from Lucas Moura. In the Carioca championship, Vasco da Gama face long odds to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Fluminense and will proceed without Philippe Coutinho; Vasco have yet to win a Brasileirão match this season. Coutinho, 33, is departing due to what he described as "mental exhaustion, " and if he continues his career a move abroad—MLS is mentioned as an option—appears likely.

MLS opening weekend brought notable drama: LAFC and Denis Bouanga defeated Inter Miami 3-0. Lionel Messi was described as furious about perceived poor refereeing and chased officials after the final whistle, only to be restrained by teammate Luis Suárez.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence.