GOLAZONEWSFlamengo faces Estudiantes in Copa Libertadores semifinal
- Flamengo plays the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinal against Estudiantes.
- Defender Marcos Rojo is ineligible after CONMEBOL rejected his registration.
- Flamengo aims to maintain its perfect semifinal record in the 21st century.
Flamengo begins its Copa Libertadores semifinal tie against Estudiantes this Thursday at 9:30 p.m. (Brasilia time) at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in La Plata. As the defending champion, the club seeks to replicate the feat of Riquelme's Boca Juniors, who secured four titles within an eight-year span.
Estudiantes will be without emergency signing Marcos Rojo for the encounter. The 36-year-old defender, a veteran of two World Cups, was expected to debut, but CONMEBOL did not approve his registration for this stage of the tournament.
This marks Flamengo's eighth appearance in a Copa Libertadores semifinal, with five of those occurring in the last eight years. The Brazilian side enters the match looking to uphold its 100% success rate in semifinals throughout the 21st century.