The final matchday of Copa Libertadores 2026 Group C brings Fluminense and Deportivo La Guaira together at the Estádio do Maracanã on 28 May, with both clubs watching concurrent results involving Bolívar and Independiente Rivadavia. Fluminense, the 2023 champions, need a result that confirms a top two finish or at least a Copa Sudamericana playoff berth, while La Guaira are fighting for third place after a campaign that has been kinder to them on home soil than in the Libertadores.
Neither coach has faced the other in competitive football before. Zubeldía took charge at Fluminense in September 2025, replacing Renato Gaúcho on a contract through 2026, while Bidoglio arrived at La Guaira in January 2026 after succeeding Juan Tolisano.
Fluminense come in with a mixed but resilient record. A 2-1 win over Bolívar in the Libertadores, a 2-1 victory against São Paulo in Série A and progression past Operário PR in the Copa do Brasil (2-1 on aggregate) suggest they can find wins in tight games, though two draws against Vitória and Independiente Rivadavia were matches in which they failed to turn possession into goals. They have generally been strong at the Maracanã, which matters here. La Guaira arrive with a 2-0 win over Portuguesa and several clean sheet draws against Universidad Central behind them, though the 2-4 loss to Independiente Rivadavia sums up their Libertadores campaign more honestly than the 1-1 draw with Bolívar does.
Fluminense have a dangerously thin squad for this one, with Ignácio, Alisson, Martinelli, Matheus Reis and Facundo Bernal all sidelined and doubts over Nonato and Germán Cano too. La Guaira, by contrast, have just one confirmed absentee in midfielder Santiago Arias, a far shorter injury list than their opponents and their expected lineup is built around Cristopher Varela in goal with Martín Gianoli and Diego Osio in central defence.
Zubeldía builds from the back and pushes his full backs, Guilherme Arana and Guga, high, opening lanes for Lucho Acosta and wide men like Yeferson Soteldo or Savarino to find space in behind, with John Kennedy leading the line. La Guaira under Bidoglio look to absorb pressure and find Londoño in space, a plan that produced the 0-0 first leg and remains their clearest path to something here. The midfield battle between Acosta and La Guaira's duo of José Correa and Sulbarán will decide how much territory Fluminense can dominate, while Fluminense's wide attackers will test full backs Nelson Hernández and Gutiérrez all evening.
These two have met only once at senior level: the 0-0 first leg in April 2026, which showed La Guaira's defensive discipline and Fluminense's struggles to break them down away from home. One match, one data point but it is a relevant one given how little has changed in the intervening weeks.
Carlos Rivero gives La Guaira an aerial threat at set pieces that Fluminense's depleted defensive unit will need to account for. The Maracanã crowd and pitch dimensions that favour sustained pressure work in Fluminense's favour even with the injury list. The motivational picture is lopsided: Fluminense need points to confirm progression, whereas La Guaira are playing for third place and a Sudamericana playoff spot with a Venezuelan title already within reach.
The injury list is the main reason to resist backing a home win and the prediction lands on 1-1. Fluminense carry more creativity through Acosta and the wide men and have the Maracanã behind them but losing five starters across defence and midfield is not easily papered over. La Guaira have already shown they can absorb pressure and find Londoño in space. A draw reflects where both teams genuinely are: one needing a win they may not quite have the firepower to guarantee, the other having already proven they can make nights like this very awkward for better resourced opponents.
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?.
