Fluminense fights for vice-leadership in the last round of the Libertadores

Fluminense is about to end the group stage of the Conmebol Libertadores and still has a chance of winning second place overall. Although Atlético-MG has dominated so far with the best campaign, Rio's Tricolor can guarantee a prominent position if some combinations of results are favorable

The current scenario

Last Tuesday (28), Atlético-MG played and now leads with 15 points. Fluminense, who started the last round in fifth place overall, will enter the field knowing that they cannot reach the lead. Tricolor will face Alianza Lima at Maracanã, this Wednesday (29), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), and can add 14 points in case of victory.

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^{Fluminense fights for the ball during the match against Sampaio Corrêa for the 2024 Copa do Brasil (Photo: reproduction/Ruano Carneiro/Getty Images Embed)}

To achieve the second best campaign, Fluminense needs to beat Alianza Lima and hope for other teams to stumble. Here are the required combinations:
1. Fluminense x Alianza Lima: Fluminense’s victory.
2. São Paulo x Talleres: Draw (and Talleres must lose by 3 goals) or defeat for Talleres.
3. Palmeiras x San Lorenzo: Draw (and Palmeiras must lose by 6 goals) or defeat for Palmeiras.
4. River Plate x Deportivo Táchira: Draw (and River Plate must lose by 4 goals difference) or defeat for River Plate.

Current Libertadores standings

Here is the current standings of the teams in the group stage:

Atlético-MG: 15 points (+8 balance) – already played in the round
Palmeiras: 13 points (+9 balance).
River Plate: 13 points (+7 balance).
Talleres: 13 points (+6 balance).
Fluminense: 11 points (+3 balance).

Fluminense, already qualified for the round of 16 of the Libertadores, kept their dream of a second championship alive. With the 2-1 victory against Cerro Porteño at Maracanã, Tricolor reached 11 points and ensured that no one in Group A can surpass them anymore. In the final round, they will face Alianza Lima, bottom of the group, who still has a chance of advancing. Fluminense will seek to improve its score to guarantee the advantage of playing the second knockout matches at home, if it faces teams with worse campaigns.

Featured photo: Fluminense players pose for the official photo during the match between Fluminense and Sampaio Corrêa, valid for the 2024 Copa do Brasil (Reproduction/Ruano Carneiro/Getty Images Embed)