Cruzeiro secured a 1-0 victory against Barcelona-EQU in their 2026 Conmebol Libertadores debut at Estadio Monumental in Guayaquil. After seven years away from the tournament, Cruzeiro withstood pressure from the local crowd, with Matheus Pereira scoring the only goal shortly after halftime. Despite late pressure from Barcelona, Cruzeiro maintained control and avoided significant threats. With this win, Cruzeiro leads Group D with three points, ahead of upcoming matches against Universidad Católica and Boca Juniors.
