Independiente Rivadavia and Fluminense meet in Mendoza on Tuesday with a place in the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals at stake. The second leg arrives level after a goalless draw at the Maracana, so a single breakthrough will decide who moves on.
That is why the search interest is focused on Independiente Rivadavia Vs Fluminense today: the winner goes through to face either Platense or Coquimbo Unido, while the loser is out. Independiente Rivadavia have built enough of a cushion at home to make this feel like their moment. They won all three of their home games in the Libertadores group stage, have taken eight league matches at the Malvinas Argentinas Stadium, and finished top of Group C with 16 points from six matches after a season that also brought the 2025 Copa Argentina.
Alfredo Berti made the return leg look bigger by leaving all of his regular starters out of Saturday's meeting with Belgrano. Jose Florentin is available again after serving his suspension in the first leg, and that matters because Fluminense have already seen enough of what Rivadavia can do. The Argentine side beat them 2-1 at the Maracana during the group stage and drew 1-1 in Mendoza, leaving them unbeaten against Fluminense this season.
Fluminense arrive with a different kind of pressure. Luis Zubeldia was dismissed on August 13, and Marcao has taken temporary charge after guiding the team to a 3-2 victory over Palmeiras in the Brazilian Championship. But away from home, the numbers have been thin. Fluminense have won just twice away from the Maracana in Serie A this season, and their Libertadores group-stage record on the road was one draw and two defeats.
There is still a problem in the script for both sides. Independiente Rivadavia have not lost to Fluminense this year, yet the tie is still hanging at 0-0 because the first leg offered no margin at all. That leaves the second leg less about reputation than execution. Alex Arce is set to lead the attack, with Matias Fernandez and Diego Salas providing support and pace in transition. If Fluminense can finally lift their away form, they can still turn a difficult tie in one night. If they cannot, Rivadavia's best season may get another chapter.
