Lanús welcome Mirassol to Estadio Ciudad de Lanús on 26 May 2026 for the final matchday of Copa Libertadores Group G, with kick off at around 19:00 local time. Mirassol have already secured top spot and a direct round of 16 berth having collected 12 points from five matches, whereas Lanús sit third with six points and need a win, or a draw if results elsewhere go their way, to claim the Copa Sudamericana play off position. The reverse fixture ended 1-0 to Mirassol through João Victor's header, so Lanús bring both motivation and a tactical reminder into this one, while Mirassol can afford to rotate freely having nothing left to play for.
Mauricio Pellegrino and Rafael Guanaes have only met once before, producing that 1-0 result in Brazil where Guanaes' side controlled transitions and defended compactly. Both coaches favour the 4-2-3-1 and for all their tactical common ground, Pellegrino is still searching for a first win over his counterpart.
Lanús arrive in inconsistent form, having lost three of their last five: a 0-2 to LDU Quito in the Libertadores, a domestic defeat to Argentinos Juniors and a bruising 0-4 at the hands of Always Ready, though a draw with Riestra and an earlier win over LDU Quito offered some relief. Mirassol have been steadier having lost just once in the group stage, with four wins from five.
Lanús are without Yoshan Valois and Raúl Loaiza through injury, while Mirassol have their own problems: Victor Luís is suspended, Igor Formiga and Negueba are injured and André Luís is doubtful. Both sides are expected to line up in 4-2-3-1, with Lanús fielding Nahuel Losada in goal behind Tomás Guidara, Carlos Izquierdoz, José Canale and Sasha Marcich, Agustín Cardozo and Felipe Peña Biafore anchoring midfield and Eduardo Salvio, Marcelino Moreno and Ramiro Carrera in the three behind Walter Bou. Mirassol should name Muralha behind Daniel Borges, João Victor, Willian Machado and Reinaldo, with José Aldo and Denílson shielding a creative trio of Alesson, Shaylon and Carlos Eduardo ahead of Edson Carioca.
Lanús like to control games through their double pivot of Cardozo and Biafore, with Salvio, Moreno and Carrera in the three behind Bou. The problem is that recent heavy defeats have exposed what happens when transitions break down: this is a side that can be punished badly on the counter and if Cardozo and Biafore are overrun, Mirassol's counter attack outlets in Shaylon and Alesson open up quickly, with Edson Carioca the likeliest to punish any gaps left behind. Bou's physical duel with João Victor and Willian Machado is the other contest worth watching.
Only one meeting sits on record between these clubs, Mirassol's 1-0 win in the reverse fixture and it already told us something useful: Mirassol can hurt teams from dead balls and João Victor's aerial threat from Reinaldo's deliveries is a problem Lanús have already failed to solve once. Lanús have their own set piece routines, while Mirassol's guaranteed qualification and squad freedom may invite wholesale rotation.
A 1-1 draw feels right. Lanús have enough urgency and home support to take the lead, probably through Bou or Moreno but Mirassol's threat on the counter makes an equaliser likely and a draw still delivers the third-place finish and Copa Sudamericana play off spot Lanús need.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
