Latin America Sports Daily for Thursday, September 10, 2026

Flamengo open Libertadores quarter-final in Quito against Independiente del Valle

Preview

Flamengo travel to Ecuador for tonight’s first leg of their Copa Libertadores quarter-final against Independiente del Valle. The match is set for Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, a venue at high altitude that has troubled Brazilian visitors before.

Independiente del Valle are known for aggressive pressing and quick transitions, a style that has made them one of South America’s most consistent overachievers in recent years. They reached the 2016 Copa Libertadores final and have continued to produce strong continental campaigns.

Flamengo, meanwhile, arrive with a squad full of established internationals and expect to control possession. The second leg will be played at the Maracanã next week, so a scoring draw or narrow defeat tonight would still leave the Brazilian side well placed.

The tie’s first leg was originally listed with varying kickoff times across international broadcasters. CONMEBOL’s official preview confirms the match is the featured quarter-final of the week, with the return in Rio de Janeiro set for 17–18 September.

For Flamengo, the challenge is to avoid conceding early and letting the altitude and atmosphere build. A clean sheet or an away goal would tilt the tie firmly in their favour before the Maracanã return.

Cienciano chase home advantage against Montevideo City Torque in Cusco

Preview

Peru’s Cienciano host Montevideo City Torque this evening in the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana quarter-final. The match is scheduled for 21:30 local time in Cusco, where the altitude gives the home side a familiar edge.

Cienciano are one of only a handful of Peruvian clubs to have won a continental title, lifting the 2003 Copa Sudamericana. Montevideo City Torque are a relatively new force in Uruguayan football, backed by the City Football Group structure.

The return leg will be played in Montevideo next week. Cienciano know they need a strong home result to carry into that away trip.

Elsewhere in the Sudamericana, Boca Juniors beat São Paulo 1–0 in Tuesday’s first leg at La Bombonera. Santa Fe and Vasco da Gama drew 0–0 in Bogotá on the same night.

Santos and Atlético Mineiro met in Vila Belmiro on Wednesday, though that result had not been confirmed in the sources consulted for this edition.

Fluminense hold a 2–0 cushion over Platense before the second leg

Result

Fluminense won their Copa Libertadores quarter-final first leg 2–0 against Platense on Tuesday. The result gives the Brazilian club a comfortable aggregate lead heading into next week’s second leg in Vicente López.

The Rio de Janeiro side controlled the match and took a decisive step towards the semi-finals. Platense, a modest Argentine club enjoying a rare deep continental run, now need to overturn a two-goal deficit at home.

Fluminense’s experience in knockout continental football showed. Their measured performance in the first leg suggests they will be difficult to break down in Argentina.

The second leg is set for 15 September in Vicente López. Platense must attack, which could leave space for Fluminense to exploit on the counter.

Continental quarter-finals shape the week across South America

Football

This week is defined by the quarter-final stage of both CONMEBOL club competitions. Teams are two legs from a semi-final place, with the Libertadores and Sudamericana running on parallel calendars.

The Libertadores last-eight ties feature a mix of Brazilian giants and ambitious challengers from Argentina, Ecuador, and Colombia. Palmeiras play Liga de Quito, while Corinthians face Estudiantes de La Plata.

In the Sudamericana, Brazilian clubs Vasco da Gama, São Paulo, Santos, and Atlético Mineiro all remain in contention. The other semi-final path runs through Colombia’s Santa Fe, Argentina’s Boca Juniors, Peru’s Cienciano, and Uruguay’s Montevideo City Torque.

The second-leg schedule means most ties will be decided between 15 and 17 September. By the end of next week, the semi-final line-ups for both competitions should be known.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

When is Flamengo’s Copa Libertadores quarter-final first leg against Independiente del Valle?

The first leg is scheduled for Thursday 10 September 2026 in Quito, with the match listed as late-night for US Eastern Time viewers. The kickoff time has been published with some variation across broadcasters, but CONMEBOL confirms the tie as this week’s featured quarter-final.

The second leg is set for the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro on 17 or 18 September.

What is the state of the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals?

Boca Juniors beat São Paulo 1–0 in the first leg on Tuesday. Santa Fe and Vasco da Gama drew 0–0 in Bogotá. Santos and Atlético Mineiro played in Vila Belmiro on Wednesday, and Cienciano host Montevideo City Torque tonight in Cusco.

Which teams are in the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals?

The last eight are Estudiantes de La Plata, Corinthians, Independiente del Valle, Flamengo, Liga de Quito, Palmeiras, Platense, and Fluminense. Fluminense lead Platense 2–0 after their first leg.