Flamengo thrashes Independiente Medellín and maintains 100% record in Libertadores

Flamengo continues its great run this season and confirmed its good form with another dominant performance in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. On Thursday night (16), the Rubro-Negro beat Independiente Medellín 4-1 at the Maracanã, in the second round of the group stage, and maintained its 100% record in the continental competition.

With goals from Lucas Paquetá, Bruno Henrique, Arrascaeta, and Pedro, the team managed by Leonardo Jardim reached six points and remains in the lead of Group A. Superior for most of the match, Flamengo controlled the action, showed offensive strength, and resolved the game with authority in front of their fans.

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The game

Flamengo started pressing and creating good opportunities from the first minutes. Just 3 minutes in, Paquetá found Samuel Lino, who crossed low to Carrascal, but the midfielder couldn't finish. The team continued intensely and, at 15 minutes, with a pass from Ayrton Lucas, Lucas Paquetá opened the scoring with a fantastic goal: the number 20 controlled the ball, lifted it, and finished first-time into the corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

At the 40-minute mark, after stealing the ball in midfield, Independiente Medellín equalized with a goal from Yony González. However, the response came even before halftime: at the 45-minute mark, Arrascaeta advanced down the right and delivered a perfect cross for Bruno Henrique, who rose higher than the opposing defense and headed the ball in to put Flamengo back in the lead: 2-1.

Returning for the second half, Flamengo needed only a few minutes to extend their lead. In the 4th minute, Bruno Henrique exchanged passes with Arrascaeta, who finished with class to score the third goal for Flamengo.

Even with the score in their favor, the team continued to control the game calmly, maintaining possession and managing the pace, as well as continuing to create chances and put pressure on the opponent.

In the 19th minute, Carrascal took a free kick into the box and Léo Pereira appeared unmarked to head the ball into the back of the net. However, after VAR review, the goal was disallowed for offside.

In stoppage time, the final blow came from the feet of Flamengo's top scorer of the 21st century: in the 51st minute, Luiz Araújo launched a counter-attack and found Pedro, who finished with a toe poke to complete the rout: 4-1 and celebrations from the more than 55,000 fans present at the Maracanã.

Flamengo

Rossi; Emerson Royal, Danilo, Léo Pereira, Ayrton Lucas; Lucas Paquetá (Pedro), Evertton Araújo; Jorge Carrascal (Wallace Yan), De Arrascaeta (Plata), Samuel Lino (Luiz Araújo); Bruno Henrique (De La Cruz).

Coach: Leonardo Jardim

Independiente Medellín

Eder Chaux; Léyser Chaverra (Diego Moreno), José Ortiz, Daniel Londoño, Frank Fabra; Esneyder Mena (Hayen Palacios), Baldomero Perlaza (Halam Loboa), Alex Serna, Yony González (John Edwin Montaño); Francisco Chaverra (Daniel Cataño), Francisco Fydriszewski.

Coach: Alejandro Restrepo

Week's agenda

Flamengo returns to the field next Sunday (19) to face Bahia, at 19:30 pm, at Maracanã, for the 12th round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship.

Editorial Board

Flamengo 4 x 1 Independiente Medellín – Conmebol Libertadores | 2nd round | Group A

Location: Maracanã Stadium – Rio de Janeiro

Date and time: 16/04/2026, at 21:30 am

Referees: Andres Matonte (URU), Martín Soppi (URU), Pablo Llarena (URU) and Antonio Garcia (URU).

Yellow cards: Baldomero Perlaza (DIM), Leyser Chaverra (DIM), Luiz Araújo (FLA), Cataño (DIM).

Goals: Lucas Paquetá (15'1st half), Yony González (40'1st half), Bruno Henrique (45'1st half), De Arrascaeta (4'2nd half), Pedro (51'2nd half).