Fluminense and Independiente Rivadavia drew 0-0 at the Maracanã in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores 2026 Round of 16, leaving the tie completely open ahead of the decisive second leg in Mendoza.

La Lepra once again showed that it is not intimidated by the iconic Brazilian venue. After defeating the Rio de Janeiro side there during the group stage, Alfredo Berti’s team returned to Rio and earned a result that leaves qualification within reach ahead of the return leg in front of its home crowd.

Independiente Rivadavia causes problems again in Rio

Maximiliano Salas forced Fábio into action after just three minutes, and the visitors continued to threaten from set pieces. Leonard Costa and Leonel Bucca also had opportunities during a first half in which Independiente Rivadavia managed to seriously trouble the home side.

Fluminense tried to respond through Hulk, Yeferson Soteldo and Martinelli, but struggled to find precision in the final third. The Mendoza side’s defense managed to contain much of the pressure, and the teams went into halftime scoreless.

Fluminense reshuffles its attack in search of a goal

The lack of attacking clarity prompted Luis Zubeldía to make quick changes. Luciano Acosta and Agustín Canobbio came on at the start of the second half, while Germán Cano, Ganso and Jefferson Savarino were introduced later.

Ezequiel Bonifacio tested Fábio shortly after the restart, and Maximiliano Salas came very close to breaking the deadlock with a shot that went just wide of the post.

The Mendoza side even created chances good enough to leave the Maracanã with more, but Fábio and the crossbar denied the visitors a breakthrough.

Everything will be decided in Mendoza

The 0-0 draw leaves the tie completely open after another 90 minutes in which Independiente Rivadavia once again showed that it can compete on equal terms with the 2023 Libertadores champion.

For Fluminense, the draw also extends a difficult run: the team has now gone seven matches without a win since competitions resumed after the World Cup, increasing the pressure on Luis Zubeldía.

The second leg will be played on Tuesday, August 18, in Mendoza, where Independiente Rivadavia will look to write another historic chapter in its first Copa Libertadores campaign. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals to face the winner of the tie between Platense and Coquimbo Unido.