Reigning Copa Libertadores champions Flamengo will be looking to get their title defence back on track when they take on Racing Club on Friday morning.

While the Argentine outfit boast a healthy five-point lead at the top of Group A, the hosts need a win to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

Match preview

Flamengo stormed to their third Copa Libertadores title last year when they secured a deserved 1-0 win over Athletico Paranaense in an all-Brazilian final at the Estadio Monumental on October 29.

However, with just two games left to play in the group stages of the 2023 Copa Libertadores, Jorge Sampaoli's men have been unconvincing in their title defence.

They fell to a 2-1 loss against Aucas in April's Group A opener, before claiming a 2-0 victory over Nublense courtesy of a first-half brace from former Fiorentina man Pedro on April 20.

Flamengo failed to build on their victory over the Chilean outfit as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Racing Club on May 4, three weeks before playing out a 1-1 draw with Jaime Garcia's men.

The Rubro-Negro, who have picked up five points from a possible 12, will now be looking over their shoulder as they sit just one point above third-placed Numblense in the Group A table.

Back home, Flamengo picked up a dominant 4-1 victory over Vasco da Gama on Tuesday morning to make it four wins from five games in the Serie A, where they are currently fifth in the table, five points off top spot.

Racing Club, on the other hand, maintained their fine run of results last time out as they beat Banfield 2-0 in the Argentine Liga Professional courtesy of goals from Gabriel Hauche and Gabriel Rojas.

La Academia now turn their attention to the Copa Libertadores, where they have enjoyed an unbeaten campaign so far, claiming 10 points from their opening four matches.

Fernando Gago's men only dropped points in May's reverse fixture against Friday's hosts, when Gabriel Barboso and Nicolas Oroz scored for either side to forge a share of the spoils at the Estadio Presidente Peron.

Racing Club head into the weekend needing just one draw to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2021, when they fell to a 4-2 aggregate defeat against Sao Paulo in the round of 16.

Team News

Flamengo will take to the pitch without the services of Marinho and Everton Ribeiro, who are currently recuperating from muscle and thigh injuries respectively.

Fellow midfielder Leo Pereira also missed Tuesday's game against Vasco da Gama through a thigh problem and is a major doubt for the hosts.

Twenty-two-year-old defender Matheuzinho has been out of action since March after suffering a severe leg injury in the 3-2 Serie A playoffs victory over Vasco.

As for Racing Club, Gago will be unable to call upon the midfield duo of Emiliano Vecchio and Leonel Miranda, who continue their lengthy spells on the sidelines.

They are joined on the club's injury table by left-winger Johan Carbonero, who suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in March's game against Union Santa Fe.

Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Cunha; Wesley, Bruno, Luiz, Lucas; Franca, Pulgar, Maia, Gerson; De Arrascaeta, Pedro

Racing Club possible starting lineup:
Arias; Rojas, Piovi, Sigali, Mura; Moralez, Moreno, Nardoni; Gomez, Reniero, Oroz

We say: Flamengo 2-1 Racing Club

Following Tuesday's victory, Flamengo have now gone eight consecutive games without defeat, picking up five wins and three draws. While Racing Club are also in fine form, Sampaoli's side have home advantage in their favour and we fancy them picking up all three points.

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