Preview: Union La Calera vs. Flamengo - prediction, team news, lineups

Union La Calera will try to get back in the race for qualification into the knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores when they host Flamengo in Group G action on Tuesday.

The Chilean side have one point from their opening three matches, while the 2019 winners of this event are already guaranteed a spot in the next round of the competition.

Match preview

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In their first appearance in this tournament, Cementeros began positively, drawing 2-2 with Quito in a match they would have hoped to get three points from, as they were only seven minutes away from winning.

They were humbled by Flamengo 4-1 before getting shut out by Velez Sarsfield 2-0 at Estadio Municipal Nicolas Chahuan Nazar.

Last season this team took a giant leap forward domestically, finishing in second to earn their place in this competition.

Manager Luca Marcogiuseppe knows this is a massive game for his team if they are to continue beyond this stage of this competition or at the very least earn a spot in the Copa Sudamericana.

After a heartbreaking shootout loss in this competition a season ago, Flamengo have come out eager to erase that painful memory and reach the top of the mountain for the second time in three seasons.

The Brazilians have nine points from their opening three matches, scoring 10 goals while conceding five, and they know a win on Tuesday can almost sew up the top spot in the group with two games remaining.

Manager Rogerio Ceni will be happy with how his team have fared lately, going unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions, including advancing to the final of the Carioca Serie A.

As good as they have been so far in this competition, they have given their fans some anxious moments, winning two of their three games with 10 minutes or less remaining.

Team News

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Cementeros will be short a pair of midfielders for this match as Gonzalo Castellani and Esteban Reyes were ejected from their second match.

Andres Vilches leads the team in scoring with two goals in their opening fixtures of this tournament, while goalkeeper Alexis Martin Arias will hope for a bit of help from his defence, who gave up 11 shots on target in a 4-1 loss to Flamengo.

Defensive midfielder Thiago Maia remains out long term for the Brazilians with a cruciate ligament rupture.

Gabriel is the joint-top scorer in this competition with five goals, including the winner from the penalty spot in their last match against LDU Quito.

Union La Calera possible starting lineup:

Arias; De Los Santos, Garcia, Vilches, Wiemberg; Laba, Valdivia, Cavalleri, Vargas; Saez, Rivero

Flamengo possible starting lineup:

Alves; Luis Viana, Arao, Isla; De Arrascaeta, Diego, Gomes, Ribeiro; Henrique, Gabriel

We say: Union La Calera 1-3 Flamengo

Union are missing two critical pieces of their midfield, which should give the Brazilians plenty of time and space to counter, leaving the Chilean side vulnerable to the quick and dynamic Flamengo attack.