Flamengo x Franca: Time and where to watch the clash on NBB

Conmebol released, on Friday night (12), the refereeing scale for the match between Flamengo and Estudiantes de La Plata , valid for the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores. The game will be played next Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time) , at Maracanã, with ESPN broadcast throughout Brazil.

Colombian referee Andrés Rojas was appointed to officiate the match. Well-known to Flamengo fans, he has refereed four Flamengo matches, with a positive record for the Rio de Janeiro club: three wins and one draw.

The most memorable match refereed by Rojas occurred in 2017 , when Flamengo thrashed Palestino 5-0 in the Copa Sudamericana at the Luso-Brasileiro Stadium. In that match, Vinícius Jr. scored his first professional goal for the red-and-black team.

CONMEBOL IMPLEMENTS NEW COMMUNICATION

In addition to announcing the schedule, Conmebol announced this Tuesday (16) a new feature for the quarterfinal stage. From this stage onwards, the main referees will immediately communicate their decisions to the entire public present at the stadium, increasing the transparency of the arbitration process.

BRAZILIAN ARBITRATION WAS ALSO APPOINTED

The winner of the Flamengo vs. Estudiantes match will face the winner of the Vélez Sarsfield vs. Racing match in the semifinals. For this bracket, CONMEBOL has selected Brazilian duo Wilton Pereira Sampaio as the referee and Rodolpho Toski as the VAR manager.

Flamengo released this Wednesday (17) an update on the clinical condition of midfielder Erick Pulgar . The player suffered a serious injury in June, after a clash with Harry Kane during the Club World Cup round of 16 clash against Bayern Munich.

Pulgar had to be replaced immediately and taken to the hospital. After more than two months away, the Chilean returned to the club's Training Center , where he is undergoing physiotherapy work on the pitch.

PULGAR CONTINUES IN PHYSIOTHERAPY AT THE CT

Flamengo reported that, this Wednesday (17), all players trained on the field. Erick Pulgar continues with physiotherapy activities on the lawn, as previously announced . The athlete may return to the club next month.

Alex Sandro and Jorginho, also injured, are in the transition phase and are completing conditioning exercises under the supervision of physiotherapists. Both remain unavailable for Filipe Luís's squad. The rest of the group trained normally.

FLAMENGO HAS SQUADS FOR THE LIBERTADORES

Flamengo takes the field this Wednesday (September 18th) at 9:30 pm at Maracanã Stadium to face Estudiantes in the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores. Coach Filipe Luís is looking to lead the red-and-black team to the semifinals of the continental competition . In the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo leads with 50 points. The next match in the tournament will be on Sunday (September 21st) at 5:30 pm against Vasco da Gama.

On the evening of this Thursday, September 18, Flamengo and Estudiantes face each other at the Maracanã Stadium , in Rio de Janeiro, for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores 2025. The ball rolls at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), with live broadcast on ESPN and on Disney+ streaming.

FLAMENGO HIGHLIGHTS

Coach Filipe Luís will have important reinforcements for the match , with the return of Bruno Henrique, who was rested due to thigh discomfort, and full-back Varela, who has recovered from pubalgia and is training normally.

On the other hand, Jorginho , Alex Sandro, and Erick Pulgar are still undergoing treatment for injuries and are unlikely to be included in the squad. The likely starting lineup includes: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Ayrton Lucas; Saúl, De La Cruz, and Arrascaeta; Plata, Pedro, and Samuel Lino . Coach: Filipe Luís.

STUDENTS' HIGHLIGHTS

Coach Eduardo Domínguez projects a tough match, but believes in the Argentine team's ability to achieve a good result away from home. Estudiantes had a solid campaign in the group stage and eliminated Cerro Porteño in the round of 16 , with three away wins and only one loss to Botafogo.

Despite being without Eric Meza and Joaquín Tobio Burgos, who are injured, Domínguez emphasized the need for physical and mental focus to create difficulties for Flamengo at the Maracanã. The likely starting lineup is: Muslera; Román Gómez, González Pírez, Facundo Rodríguez, and Arzamendía; Ascacíbar, Amondarain, Palacios, José Sosa, and Cetré; and Facundo Farías . Coach: Eduardo Domínguez.