Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense is set to continue its quest for continental glory as they travel to Colombia to face América de Cali in the first leg of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2025 Round of 16. The highly anticipated match is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Santiago de Cali, with kickoff at 9:30 PM Brasília time (7:30 PM local time).
Fluminense, under the guidance of coach Renato Gaúcho, enters the knockout stage after a strong group phase performance. The Rio de Janeiro club topped Group F with 13 points, securing four wins, one draw, and a single loss, which allowed them to bypass the playoff round. The team comes into this fixture following a mixed run of results, having recently advanced to the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil by eliminating Internacional and playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Bahia in the Brasileirão. After winning the prestigious Copa Libertadores in 2023 and the Recopa Sudamericana in 2024, the Tricolor is eager to add another continental trophy to its collection.
On the other side, América de Cali earned their spot in the Round of 16 through a more arduous path. After finishing as the runner-up in Group C with eight points, the Colombian side had to navigate a playoff round, where they successfully dispatched Brazilian club Bahia with a 2-0 aggregate victory. Coached by Jorge Orosmán, “La Mechita” will be looking to leverage their home advantage in this crucial first leg to build a lead before the return fixture in Brazil. Their most recent domestic outing was a narrow 1-0 loss to Tolima, and they will be determined to bounce back with a strong performance against the Brazilian giants.
Football fans can follow the action live through various platforms. In Brazil, the match will be broadcast on open television by SBT, with streaming options available on Paramount+, the SBT Sports YouTube channel, and +SBT, according to Goal.com and NSC Total. The second leg of the tie is scheduled for the following week, on August 19, at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Both teams are contending with significant absences due to injuries. Fluminense will be without several key players, including veteran defender Thiago Silva, midfielders Nonato and Otávio, and forwards Soteldo, Ignácio, and Gabriel Fuentes, who are all in the medical department. The probable lineup for Fluminense is: Fábio; Samuel Xavier, Manoel, Freytes, Renê (Guga); Hércules, Martinelli, Lima (Ganso); K. Serna, Everaldo, and A. Canobbio.
América de Cali also has injury concerns, with Marcos Mina, Jhon Murillo, and Dylan Borrero sidelined. Their expected starting eleven is: Jorge Soto; Cristian Tovar, Daniel Bocanegra, Jean Pestaña, Omar Bertel; Rafael Carrascal, Sebastián Navarro, Josen Escobar; Joel Romero, Luis Ramos, and Cristian Barrios.
For the Fluminense supporters traveling to Colombia, the club has provided ticket information, with prices set at 150,000 Colombian pesos (approximately R$200). Tickets are available online, and the away fans will be situated in the Occidental Piso 3 sector. Local authorities have stipulated that visiting fans will not be permitted to bring flags or banners into the stadium.
