Prediction markets: Kalshi gives Canelo Alvarez a 73% chance against Christian Mbilli, and gives America a 33% chance to win the Liga MX Apertura, as of October 22, 11:37 p.m. ET. Prices are bets, not polls.
Estudiantes knock out Flamengo. The Argentine side won 3-2 on penalties at the Maracanã on Thursday night after a second 0-0 draw, and will now meet Palmeiras in the final.
Palmeiras reached the Libertadores final on penalties. They lost 0-1 to Fluminense on Wednesday but advanced 5-3 in the shootout after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
Brazil’s title race remains brutally tight. Flamengo lead the Série A table with 67 points, just one ahead of Palmeiras with seven rounds left.
Today’s headlines October 23, 2026
| Event | Status | Angle |
|---|---|---|
| Palmeiras vs Fluminense | Result | Palmeiras lost 0-1 but beat Fluminense 5-3 on penalties to book their place in the Libertadores final. |
| Cruzeiro vs Remo | Tonight, local time | Cruzeiro look to strengthen their grip on fourth place when they host Remo in Série A. |
02
Palmeiras stagger into the Libertadores final on penalties
Result
Palmeiras lost 0-1 to Fluminense on Wednesday but won the semifinal 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw. The result sent the São Paulo giants through to the Copa Libertadores final despite a nervy night.
The defeat ended their hopes of winning in normal time, but goalkeeper and takers held their nerve in the shootout. It was a dramatic way to reach the biggest fixture in South American club football.
Palmeiras are also locked in a tight Série A title race with Flamengo. The emotional toll of a penalty shootout could shape how the coach manages the squad over the coming week.
The final is on 28 November at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Palmeiras will face Estudiantes, who beat Flamengo on penalties on Thursday.
In short — Palmeiras lost 0-1 to Fluminense but advanced 5-3 on penalties to reach the Copa Libertadores final.
03
Brazil title race stays on a knife-edge heading into the weekend
Analysis
Flamengo top the Brasileirão Série A standings after 31 matches with 67 points. Palmeiras sit just one point behind on 66, making every remaining fixture a potential title decider.
Athletico-PR are third with 53 points, while Cruzeiro and Fluminense are tied on 51 as the fight for the final Copa Libertadores spots continues. The gap from first to fifth is just sixteen points with seven rounds to go.
This weekend offers a spread of games that could stretch the table further. Cruzeiro host Remo on Friday, while Saturday brings seven matches including Mirassol-São Paulo and Vasco-Corinthians.
There are no games on Sunday because of the presidential runoff, so Coritiba-Grêmio and Flamengo-Atlético-MG move to Monday. Every point now carries extra weight for clubs juggling continental and domestic ambitions.
The scheduling means Palmeiras, fresh from their shootout triumph, must refocus quickly for their Saturday match against Bragantino. Fatigue and rotation are likely to shape team news across the league.
In short — Flamengo lead the Série A table by a single point over Palmeiras as seven rounds of fixtures remain.
04
Friday and Saturday fixtures give Brazilian clubs little room to breathe
Football
Cruzeiro face Remo on Friday as they look to close in on a top-four finish. They are currently fourth with 51 points, level with Fluminense but ahead on tiebreakers.
Saturday’s slate is heavy. Vitória host Athletico-PR, Internacional welcome Botafogo, Mirassol meet São Paulo, Palmeiras play Bragantino, and Vasco face Corinthians.
Chapecoense versus Fluminense and Santos versus Bahia complete Saturday’s seven-match programme. Fluminense, after their Libertadores semifinal exit, must recover quickly to keep their league campaign on track.
With no games on Sunday because of the election, Monday closes the round with Coritiba-Grêmio and Flamengo-Atlético-MG. Flamengo’s match comes after their Libertadores exit, and the title pressure remains intense.
These fixtures show the relentless rhythm of Brazilian football as the title race enters its final weeks.
In short — Cruzeiro host Remo on Friday and seven Série A matches follow on Saturday before Flamengo face Atlético-MG on Monday.
What Prediction Markets Say
Implied chances from traders’ prices, as of October 22, 11:37 p.m. ET.
Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbilli
Canelo Alvarez 73% · Christian Mbilli 28%
Kalshi (regulated in the US by the CFTC) · 301,803 contracts traded
Liga MX Apertura Champion
America 33% · Guadalajara 18% · Cruz Azul 14%
Kalshi (regulated in the US by the CFTC) · 851,378 contracts traded
Brazil Série A: Winner
Flamengo 63.5% · Palmeiras 32% · Athletico Paranaense 0.4%
Polymarket · US$51,274 traded
Copa Libertadores: Winner
Palmeiras 67% · Estudiantes LP 31.6% · Flamengo 0.1%
Polymarket · US$37,697 traded
Peru Liga 1: Teams relegated (2026)
UTC Cajamarca 88% · Deportivo Moquegua 64.5% · ADT 43%
Polymarket · US$22,216 traded
Colombia Primera A: Teams relegated (2026)
Jaguares 77.5% · Cúcuta Deportivo 8% · Independiente Medellín 3.2%
Polymarket · US$21,982 traded
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
04
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Who plays in the Libertadores final?
Palmeiras face Estudiantes in the final on 28 November at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Palmeiras beat Fluminense 5-3 on penalties on Wednesday after a 2-2 aggregate draw, and Estudiantes beat Flamengo 3-2 on penalties on Thursday after two 0-0 draws.
Palmeiras are the only Brazilian club left in the competition.
What happened in the Flamengo vs Estudiantes second leg?
The match was on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro. It ended 0-0 again, and Estudiantes won the shootout 3-2.
Who leads the Brazilian Série A right now?
Flamengo lead with 67 points after 31 matches. Palmeiras are second with 66, followed by Athletico-PR on 53 and Cruzeiro and Fluminense on 51.
Flamengo host Atlético-MG on Monday, while Palmeiras play Bragantino on Saturday as the title race swings toward its final month.
In short — Fans want to know who is in the Libertadores final, how the Rio leg ended, and how the Brazilian title race stands.
Sources: Gazeta Esportiva – Palmeiras vs Fluminense, Lance – Flamengo vs Estudiantes, Lance – Brasileirão standings, Imirante – Brasileirão round schedule
Updated: 2026-10-22T23:19:00-03:00 by Oliver Mason, Latin America sports correspondent.
Related coverage: São Paulo Grand Prix Schedule Holds · Colombia Stocks Fall 1.25% as Peso Slips | Colombia Market Report, Oct 22 · Argentina Stocks Fall 1.5% as Risk Rises | Argentina Market Report, Oct 22.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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