Флуминенсе против Индепендиенте Ривадавија

Fluminense and Independiente Rivadavia played to a goalless draw at the Maracanã in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores round of 16 tie, leaving the aggregate score wide open ahead of next week's return. The hosts controlled possession for long stretches but struggled to turn territory into real chances, while the Argentine visitors were the more dangerous side in transition. Rivadavia started brightly, with Maxi Salas testing goalkeeper Fábio early and Ezequiel Bonifacio firing chances from outside the box. Bonifacio then had the clearest opening of the night in the second half, only for Fábio to deny him with a sharp reflex save. Matías Fernández also rattled the post for the Argentines. Late on, Fluminense pushed for a winner as Bolcato made a crucial last-ditch defensive intervention before Germán Cano put the rebound over the bar. With no goals or away-goal advantage to separate them, both sides head into the decisive second leg on level terms. Rivadavia showed they can match Fluminense physically and creatively, giving them real belief travelling home to Mendoza, while Fluminense will need more of Fábio's heroics and a sharper attacking edge to avoid an upset at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium.