Winners of the 2019 Copa Libertadores On Thursday, Flamengo will host Copa Sudamericana holders Defensa y Justicia in the second leg of their last-16 encounter.
The two teams met for the first time last week, with the Brazilians winning 1-0 over their Argentine opponents in the first leg.
Flamengo are still on track to reach the Copa Libertadores' knockout rounds after Michael's 27th-minute goal secured a narrow victory against Defensa last week.
The Scarlet-Black have shone in South America's top league this season, going undefeated in seven games so far, yet locally things have not been easy.
Final year, Flamengo was knocked out at this level of the competition after losing 6-4 on penalties to Racing Club, but a draw on Thursday will see them advance to the last eight.
Defensa, on the other hand, never trailed in a first-leg match last season, as they will on Thursday, and they will be up against a far more experienced club in this tournament, so their job may be more difficult to accomplish.
Piris Da Motta (ankle), Rodrigo Caio (calf), Bruno Henrique (thigh), and Cesar (knee) are all injured for Flamengo.
Nine of the players who started the first leg also participated in the win against Bahia over the weekend, and Gaucho is expected to pick a similar lineup on Thursday.
Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Alves; Isla, G. Henrique, Pereira, Luis; Gomes, Maia; Ribeiro, De Arrascaeta, Michael; Barbosa
Defensa y Justicia possible starting lineup:
Unsain; M. Rodriguez, Frias, J. Rodriguez, Cardona, Soto; Contreras, Escalante, Loaiza, Rotondi; Bou
Prediction: We predict under 3.5 goals in this match.
Tip: 3.5 Under
