Flamengo welcome Cusco FC to the Maracanã on May 27 2026 for the final matchday of Copa Libertadores Group A, arriving as heavy favourites sitting top with 13 points from five matches after winning the first leg 2-0 on April 8, whereas Cusco sit bottom on a single point and are already eliminated.
Leonardo Jardim took charge of Flamengo on March 4 2026, while Alejandro Orfila assumed control of Cusco on March 30 2026, preferring a compact 4-2-3-1 built around defensive organisation and counter attacks. This is the first meeting between the two coaches.
A 3-0 home loss to Palmeiras on May 24 was a rough domestic result for Flamengo, while Cusco won 1-0 against Atlético Grau on May 23 but remain winless in the group stage and have struggled badly away from home.
Flamengo are dealing with several absences: Giorgian de Arrascaeta is out until mid June with a broken collarbone, Jorginho and Everton are also injured and a possible red card for Danilo adds further uncertainty to the backline. Rotation seems likely with a league fixture against Coritiba due on May 30. Jardim may deploy Agustín Rossi in goal behind a backline of Emerson Royal or Guillermo Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas or Alex Sandro, with Evertton Araújo and Paquetá or Nicolás de la Cruz anchoring midfield and Jorge Carrascal, Samuel Lino or Luiz Araújo and Bruno Henrique supporting Pedro up front.
Cusco report no major injuries or suspensions, though some rotation is possible given the match has no bearing on qualification. Pedro Díaz is expected in goal, protected by Marlon Ruidías, Álvaro Ampuero, Aldair Fuentes or José Bolívar, with Oswaldo Valenzuela, Diego Soto and Gabriel Carabajal in midfield and Juan Manuel Tévez or Facundo Callejo leading the line.
Flamengo under Jardim press high and dominate possession, with Bruno Henrique and Pedro supplied by Paquetá from midfield. Cusco's setup is built for frustrating opponents and hitting on the break, which works better at altitude than it does on the road (their group stage record away from home makes that pretty clear). Cusco's full backs will face a difficult night against Flamengo's overlapping wide players and the only previous meeting between these sides, the first leg in April 2026, ended 2-0 to Flamengo through goals from Bruno Henrique and de Arrascaeta.
Flamengo 2-1 Cusco FC. Rotation and the looming Coritiba fixture might take some edge off Flamengo's attacking output but they have enough depth to control this regardless. Cusco won their last domestic match and have shown they can score on the road, so giving them a goal feels honest rather than generous, though even a rotated Flamengo side should have too much for a team that is winless through five group stage matches.
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?.
