BEFORE THE CLASSIC BETWEEN FLAMENGO AND VASCO, JOURNALIST HIGHLIGHTS WHO IS BETTER IN THE DUEL BETWEEN ARRASCAETA X PAYET

Flamengo returns to the field this Saturday (09) to face Mirassol, at 6:30 pm, at Maracanã, for the 19th round of the Brazilian Championship. Before the duel , coach Filipe Luís conducts, this Friday (08), the last training session at Ninho do Urubu, at 3:30 pm , when he will define the starting team.

The preparations are taking place amid a significant list of absences, which will force the coach to adjust the lineup to try to maintain the team's good form in the competition . The Mais Querido leads the Brazilian Championship with 37 points , the same score as Cruzeiro, but with an advantage in goal difference and a game in hand.

FLAMENGO'S ABSENCE LIST

Danilo: An ultrasound showed progress in a hamstring injury in his right thigh. He is now undergoing physical therapy on the field, following a recovery schedule.

De La Cruz: performs strength and mobility work at the gym, in addition to field activities monitored by the physiotherapy department.

Erick: continues to recover from surgery on the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, performed after an injury at the Club World Cup.

Jorginho: suspended for accumulating yellow cards.

PROBABLE FORMATION OF MENGÃO

With the absences, Flamengo 's most likely starting lineup is: Rossi; Alex Sandro, Léo Pereira, Léo Ortiz, and Emerson Royal; Allan, Saúl, Samuel Lino, Arrascaeta, and Plata; Pedro . Changes are still possible depending on performance in Friday's training session.

Among the new additions is the potential debut of midfielder Jorge Carrascal in the Brasileirão. The player was unable to play in the Copa do Brasil against Atlético-MG due to his unregistered status, but he is now available and could start in the starting lineup.

Flamengo returns to the field this Saturday (9) to face Mirassol , at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, for the 19th round of the Brazilian Championship . The team leads the competition with 37 points, but sees Cruzeiro, who has the same number of points, approaching.

On the eve of the match, coach Filipe Luís will lead, this Friday (8) , the squad's last training session at Ninho do Urubu, at 3:30 pm. It will be the moment to define the starting lineup that will seek three more points in front of the red-black fans.

FLAMENGO'S PROBABLE LINEUP

Due to absences in the squad, the most likely formation includes Rossi; Alex Sandro, Léo Pereira (Cleiton), Léo Ortiz and Emerson Royal; Allan, Saúl (Evertton Araújo), Arrascaeta, Luiz Araújo, Plata and Pedro.

A potential new addition to the squad is Jorge Carrascal. The midfielder was unable to play in the Copa do Brasil against Atlético-MG due to his unregistered status , but is now available for the Campeonato Brasileiro . Filipe Luís is evaluating whether he will start.

FLAMENGO'S SHORTAGES

Flamengo has Pulgar, De La Cruz, and Danilo out due to injuries . Jorginho is also suspended and will not be able to face the São Paulo team. However, the club is counting on the return of Luiz Araújo and Bruno Henrique, who were rested against Atlético-MG.

TEAMS' MOMENT IN THE TABLE

Flamengo leads the competition with a goal difference advantage over Cruzeiro and still has a game in hand . Mirassol, meanwhile, is having a surprising campaign and sits in fifth place with 28 points.

Maracanã will be the stage for an unprecedented clash this Saturday (09), when Flamengo and Mirassol face each other in the 19th round of the Brasileirão. For midfielder Neto Moura, from the São Paulo team, the match represents a special milestone in his career .

Neto Moura on his debut in the Flamengo vs. Mirassol duel: "at Maracanã, it's very special"

"I'm very happy to have, step by step, helped bring the club to this point. Not just me, but everyone who's been here has contributed. Making my debut in a big game against Flamengo at Maracanã is very special . From now on, we'll continue doing our job and striving to improve every day," he told GE.

The player reinforced that Mirassol will not compromise its game plan, even against a formidable opponent: "We're going to maintain our style. We know we're going up against a Brazilian giant, but we have to preserve our identity , because that's what got us this far. If we put what we've trained into on the field, we have everything we need to put in a good performance."

RECORD AGAINST CLUBS FROM RIO DE JANEIRO

Saturday's match will be only Mirassol's fifth game against a Rio de Janeiro team. To date, the team has faced Bangu, Portuguesa-RJ, Volta Redonda, and Vasco. The team's lack of a previous clash with Flamengo is understandable: the Red-Blacks have never been relegated, and the two clubs have never met in the Copa do Brasil .

Despite the game being in the last round of the first half, Mirassol has not yet faced Botafogo and Fluminense due to the postponement of matches due to the duo's participation in the Club World Cup .

MIRASSOL MOMENT

Newcomers to the top flight, Mirassol has had a surprising run, sitting in fifth place with 28 points—ten behind leaders Flamengo. This performance outperforms more established clubs like Santos , currently 15th and also coming from Série B.

FLAMENGO MOMENT

Flamengo leads the Brasileirão with 37 points from 17 matches , one game in hand over second-place Cruzeiro. The historic match against Mirassol will be at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), with exclusive coverage on Premiere (pay-per-view).