Buenos Aires (Argentina) (AFP) – The assault for the South American Cup Winners' Cup appears very unequal: Lanús and Flamengo are separated by millions of dollars. But Granate clings to the maxim that in football the checkbook does not always count to ensure respect for their home on Thursday in the first leg final.

First modification: 02/18/2026 - 18:19

The match at the Ciudad de Lanús stadium, in the south of Buenos Aires (9:30 p.m. local time, 00:30 a.m. GMT on Friday), is the starting point to define the first continental title of the year.

Its celebration is assured, for now, despite calls for a general strike on Thursday in Argentina against the labor reform promoted by the government of Javier Milei.

Below, five keys to the first round of the Cup Winners' Cup, whose second leg will be played on Thursday of next week at the Maracaná:

1. Astronomical differences

There is an enormous distance in the economic valuation of the teams, since the Flamengo squad, which is competing in the Cup Winners' Cup as champions of the 2025 Copa Libertadores, is valued at 223.7 million euros, according to Transfermarkt.

Mengão is the owner of the two most expensive signings in South American football. The last and most expensive? That of midfielder Lucas Paquetá, repatriated in January from West Ham for 42 million euros.

The difference is so wide that Paquetá is worth practically the same as the entire Granate squad, which has an estimated value of 43.8 million euros, with the skilled Marcelino Moreno (5 million) as the highest valued player.

2. Lanús appeals to its international mystique

The Argentine club, champion of the 2025 Copa Sudamericana, began to have participation outside its border in the mid-1990s.

Since then, he has won three tournaments, the Sudamericanas in 2013 and 2025 and the now-defunct Copa Conmebol 1996, in addition to being a finalist in the Conmebol 1997, the Recopa 2014, the Libertadores 2017 and the Sudamericana 2020.

Against Brazilian rivals, in finals, he has a bittersweet record.

He had celebrations against Ponte Preta in 2013 and against Atlético Mineiro last year in the Sudamericana title games.

As a counterpart, they couldn't against Mineiro in the 1997 Conmebol and in the 2014 Recopa, but the most painful loss was against Gremio in the 2017 Libertadores.

3. Flamengo, for more drinks

Fla won the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup for the first time in 1981, led by the remembered Zico, while in the 90s they won a Copa Nicolás Leoz and the extinct Copa Mercosur.

The international relaunch came in recent times, with a strong prominence, driven by his millions, which led him to win the Libertadores of 2019, 2022 and 2025 and the 2020 Cup Winners' Cup.

Against Argentine teams, the most popular club in Brazil has totaled 52 wins, 34 draws and 34 losses in 120 matches.

4. How they get to the big crossing

Lanús began the Argentine tournament with acceptable results and occupies sixth place among 15 teams in Zone A, with eight points in five games.

Last day they lost 2-0 with Independiente, in a match in which their coach, Mauricio Pellegrino, arranged an alternative formation.

In principle, due to injury, starting forward Rodrigo Castillo would not play.

On the visiting side, Flamengo started the season below expectations.

In the Brasileirão he navigates the middle of the table, with four units in three days, while in the Carioca Championship he advanced to the semifinals, while losing the Brazilian Super Cup, his first title chance of the year, with Corinthians.

Filipe Luís will suffer the losses of midfielders Jorginho and Saúl, and attackers Wallace Yan and Gonzalo Plata.

5. The voice of the drivers

Mauricio Pellegrino, coach of Lanús: "Flamengo is a team that has a high level. We want to do everything within our power to be able to play the best game possible."

Filipe Luís, Flamengo coach: "We want to win another Cup Winners' Cup. But it is a very difficult title. Flamengo, in 130 years of history, has only won the Cup Winners' Cup once. It is never easy to play in Argentina."

Probable lineups:

Lanús: Nahuel Losada - Tomás Guidara, Carlos Izquierdoz, José Canale, Sasha Marcich - Agustín Medina, Agustín Cardozo - Eduardo Salvio, Marcelino Moreno, Ramiro Carrera - Walter Bou. DT: Mauricio Pellegrino.

Flamengo: Agustín Rossi - Emerson Royal, Léo Pereira, Léo Ortiz, Alex Sandro - Erick Pulgar, Evertton Araújo - Lucas Paquetá, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Everton Cebolinha - Pedro. DT: Filipe Luis.

Referee: Alexis Herrera (VEN)

© 2026 AFP

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