Copa Libertadores 2026: Can Brazilian dominance be stopped in the quarter-finals?
Copa Libertadores 2026: A glance at the quarter-final lineup for the Copa Libertadores shows a familiar story. Four Brazilian clubs remain in the competition, and at least one of them would be expected to show up for the final in Montevideo.
The rest of the draw includes LDU de Quito and Independiente del Valle from Ecuador and Club Atletico Platense and Estudiantes from Argentina. Given the recent history of the competition, it will require a massive effort from either of these sides to reach the final, let alone win the tournament.
Since 2018, when River Plate beat arch-rivals Boca Juniors in the final, the Libertadores trophy has stayed in Brazil. In fact, Flamengo and Palmeiras have featured in five of the last seven finals. In this time, Flamengo have won three titles, Palmeiras two, while Botafogo and Fluminense have also won the competition once.
With the current quarter-final draw, the possibility of the semi-finals being an all-Brazilian affair remains high. But is there any hope for the rest of the teams? Let’s take a look at the last eight ties.
Fluminense vs Club Atletico Platense
Fluminense finished second in their group to progress to the last 16. There they met the side that got the better of them in the group stages, Independiente Rivadavia. The first leg at Maracanã ended in a 0-0 draw, and the return leg saw the teams end up level following a 1-1 scoreline. Fluminense prevailed on penalties to progress.
Their quarter-final opponents, Atletico Platense, have had a remarkable rise in Argentine football. In 2018, the club was playing third-tier football, and since then they have risen through the ranks, becoming the Apertura champions in 2025. This year in the Libertadores, they reached the last 16 after finishing behind Corinthians in their group.
They remarkably also beat their Brazil rivals in the return fixture in Sao Paulo. In the first knockout round, they beat Chile’s Coquimbo Unido on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate score.
On paper, they have been handed a tough tie against Fluminense, but with the second leg at their Estadio Ciudad de Vicente López, the Calamares will back themselves to cause an upset. They have produced some stunning results over the years, and Fla will be wary of underestimating their opponents.
First leg: September 8 at 7:00 p.m. (local time) at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Second leg: September 15 at 7:00 p.m. (local time) at the Estadio Ciudad de Vicente López in Vicente López.
Palmeiras vs LDU de Quito
Brazilian giants Palmeiras haven’t made life easy for themselves in the Libertadores this season. The group stage saw them finish behind Paraguay’s Cerra Porteño, having lost to them at home. But as fate would have it, they were pitted against them in the last 16 as well.
An encouraging draw in Brazil raised hopes of Porteno causing a massive shock, but they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat in the return leg. While Alviverde have progressed to the quarter-finals again, they look far from convincing right now.
The club reached the final of the tournament last year, but is still waiting to win the competition for the first time since back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021. Their league form suggests they will have enough to reach the semis, but LDU de Quito present a formidable opposition.
The 2008 Libertadores winners topped their group with 12 points to set up a last 16 tie against Brazil’s Mirassol. Quito drew the first leg away in Brazil and reached the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout win following a goalless draw.
Their quarter-final tie against Palmeiras presents them with a chance to correct the wrongs of last year. The team progressed to the semi-final and thrashed Palmeiras 3-0 in the first leg. However, the Sao Paulo giant produced a historic comeback to win the second leg 4-0 and reach the final.
The Ecuadorian side will still be hurting from the defeat, and it could spur them on to make the semis once again. In recent years, they have been one of the only two clubs that have tasted continental success apart from the Brazilian and Argentinian dominance. Under Brazilian coach Tiago Nunes, the team has continued to progress and will hope to recreate the magic of their 2008 triumph.
First leg: September 9 at 7:00 p.m. (local time) at NuBank Parque in São Paulo.
Second leg: September 16 at 5:00 p.m. (local time) at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium.
Corinthians vs Estudiantes
Corinthians are down in 10th place currently in Brasileiro Serie A, but they have had a much better showing in the premier continental competition. They finished top of their group to set up a last 16 tie against Rosario Central and had little trouble against their opponents despite a goalless first-leg draw.
A solitary goal from Breno Bidon was enough to seal progress to the quarter-finals for Fernando Diniz. Despite their status as a massive club, Corinthians have only won the Copa Libertadores once. The success in 2012 was followed by a triumph in Recopa Sudamericana in 2013, their last continental title to date.
They will face Argentina powerhouse Estudiantes. The team from La Plata was the runner-up in Group A and had suffered only a single defeat. The club also looked impressive in their last 16 tie against Chilean side Universidad Católica. After a 1-1 draw at home, El León swept their opponents aside with a 3-0 win in the return leg.
Estudiantes have significant history in the competition, winning it four times, including a hat-trick of titles between 1968 and 1970. However, their last success in Libertadores came in 2009. Last season, they reached the quarters as well, only to lose on penalties to Flamengo.
The tie will offer a chance for one of the giants of South American football to take a step closer to finding their glory days in continental competition.
First leg: September 9 at 9:30 p.m. (local time) at the UNO Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium in La Plata.
Second leg: September 16 at 9:30 p.m. (local time) at Neo Química Arena in São Paulo.
Independiente del Valle vs Flamengo
It isn’t a surprise to see Independiente del Valle reach the Copa Libertadores. The team from Sangolquí, Ecuador, has emerged as a force domestically and in South American competitions. They have challenged the dominance of LDU de Quito, winning two of the last five league titles.
The club has also won two Copa Sudamericana titles and a Recopa title in the last seven years. Steadily, del Valle is making people sit up and take notice. This year in Libertadores, they secured the top spot in their group and then made light work of Colombian side Deportes Tolima. A narrow 1-0 win in Ibagué was followed by a 3-1 success at home. But their task in the quarter-finals won’t be easy.
They will take on defending champions Flamengo, who have won the competition two times in the last four years. Under Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim, the Mengão has been playing some scintillating stuff. Jardim’s appointment did come as a surprise after his predecessor Filipe Luís was sacked despite an 8-0 against Madureira in the Campeonato Carioca (Rio de Janeiro state league).
Flamengo took a massive 16 points in the group stages, finishing seven ahead of second-place Estudiantes. The last 16 tie against fellow Brazilian side Cruzeiro did pose a challenge, but they went through. After drawing the first leg 1-1, the return game at Maracanã was poised with both sides scoring one goal each again.
Samuel Lino then netted just over the hour mark to ensure their place in the quarter-finals. Flamengo will be heavy favourites against Independiente del Valle, and no one will count them out of retaining their Libertadores crown.
First leg: September 10 at 7:30 p.m. (local time) at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito.
Second leg: September 17 at 9:30 p.m. (local time) at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
