Muslera saves 3 penalties as Estudiantes reach Libertadores final

Fernando Muslera, the Uruguayan goalkeeper who spent many years at Turkish giants Galatasaray, sent Estudiantes de La Plata into the Copa Libertadores final. The semi-final second leg at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã ended goalless, and with the first leg in La Plata also finishing 0-0, the tie went to penalties. According to Turkish outlets Fotomaç and Ajansspor, the 40-year-old saved 3 of Flamengo's 5 spot kicks as the Argentine side won the shootout 3-2.

Estudiantes will meet Palmeiras in the final. Brazilian broadcaster Globo Esporte (ge) noted that the two clubs will contest a Libertadores final again 58 years after their first one, when Estudiantes lifted the trophy in 1968. The date and venue of the final were not given in the sources used for this article.

How did the penalty shootout unfold?

Muslera kept out the penalties of Flamengo's Jorginho, Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Henrique, Turkish daily Sözcü reported. According to ge, it was the first penalty Jorginho had missed since joining Flamengo. Sözcü added that Muslera danced in front of his goal after the decisive save, footage that quickly spread among Galatasaray fans in Turkey.

Estudiantes had to hold on with ten men for a long spell. Sözcü said the Argentine club played most of the second half a man down after a red card, while Spain's Mundo Deportivo described them resisting for around 45 minutes with one player fewer. The visible sources do not name the player who was sent off. Mundo Deportivo also pointed out that Estudiantes had never previously won at the Maracanã.

How did Estudiantes reach the final?

Estudiantes came through two tight knockout ties, with no game in either decided by more than one goal. Their recent Libertadores results, according to ScoreLab data:

1. 10 September 2026 — Estudiantes drew 1-1 with Corinthians in La Plata.
2. 17 September 2026 — Estudiantes won 1-0 away at Corinthians to reach the semi-finals.
3. 16 October 2026 — The semi-final first leg against Flamengo in La Plata ended 0-0.
4. 23 October 2026 (Turkish time) — The second leg at the Maracanã ended 0-0; Estudiantes won the shootout 3-2 to reach the final.

According to ge, this is the sixth Copa Libertadores final in Estudiantes' history, drawing the Argentine club level with São Paulo and Uruguay's Nacional on number of finals reached.

Where has Muslera played since leaving Galatasaray?

Since leaving Galatasaray, Fernando Muslera has been playing in Argentina for Estudiantes. ScoreLab data shows he has made 20 appearances in the 2026 Argentine league season, 15 of them as a starter, with an average rating of 7.19. In the Libertadores he earned a 7.41 rating in the quarter-final win at Corinthians and 7.82 in the second leg against Flamengo.

Across his career Muslera has played 751 club games for 5 clubs and won 137 caps for Uruguay, lifting 1 Copa América. His Galatasaray years brought 8 Süper Lig titles, 5 Turkish Cups and 6 Turkish Super Cups, and he has added 1 Argentine Liga Profesional title. According to ScoreLab data, his Estudiantes contract runs until 31 December 2026.

What comes next?

Estudiantes will face Palmeiras in a rematch of the 1968 Libertadores final. Victory would give Muslera, an 8-time Süper Lig champion in Turkey, South America's biggest club trophy. The date of the final will be added to this article once the schedule is confirmed.