Before the decisive game against Bahia, Bruno Henrique sends a message to the Nation: "we will do our best"

Tite defined Flamengo and announced the 11 starters who will face Peñarol, this Thursday, at Maracanã, at 7pm. De la Cruz returns to the starting lineup in place of Léo Ortiz, and Alex Sandro and Plata were retained. The duel with the Uruguayans is the first between the teams in the quarter-finals of the Copa Conmebol Libertadores. Follow the Red and Black lineup:Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Pulgar, De la Cruz, Gerson and Arrascaeta; Plata and Bruno Henrique.

Alex Sandro and Plata, debutants in last Sunday's classic, remain in the team after having good performances in the draw against Vasco. Gabigol is now out of the relationship due to fibrosis in the posterior muscle of his right thigh. Flamengo, in a statement, reported that the athlete did not suffer any injury in the region. Check it out:

"The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo informs that the athlete Gabriel Barbosa underwent tests that did not diagnose an injury to the posterior muscle of his right thigh. However, the Technical Committee opted for precaution and did not list him for the duel against Peñarol due to fibrosis in the region. Gabi is handed over to physiotherapists and physical trainers for the series of decisive games of the season."

Flamengo faces Peñarol (URU) in the first game of the CONMEBOL Libertadores quarter-finals and, here, you can watch the broadcast, live, with 2h30 of pre-game, interviews, the team's arrival at Maracanã and everything more.

Follow the match live here:

Bruno Henrique, a player who will be a key player for Flamengo in this final stretch of the season due to Pedro's injury, expressed his sadness over his teammate's situation and revealed his desire to "make up" for the support he received from the number 9 in 2022 .

“I hope I can do this, like Pedro did in 2022, when I was away. He was the king of America, he led Flamengo to titles, a very important player, not only on the field, but also outside”, commented Bruno Henrique.

In an interview with ESPN, Bruno Henrique commented on the serious injury de Pedro, highlighting that this type of injury is one of the most feared by professional athletes. He also mentioned that he hopes to repay the attitude of the number 9, who was one of the team's pillars during his absence last year, when he spent a large part of the season away. Now, the situation is reversed, and BH takes on the role of replacing the center forward.

“This injury (ACL) is what every player fears. It's Pedro's second, and faced with a fatality, in training, injuring his knee. It's difficult to understand, right, but we have to accept it”, lamented BH.

Much requested by the fans as As a starter, Pedro faced a dilemma in 2022, performing well but not being frequently selected. With the arrival of Dorival Júnior, the coach responded to the fans' outcry, placing Pedro and Gabigol to play together.

Unfortunately, this change was triggered by the serious injury to Bruno Henrique, which occurred in June of that year, in a match against Cuiabá. After needing to undergo surgery, the number 27 only returned to the pitch in 2023.

With Pedro taking his place, the response was impressive. His numbers in the Libertadores were extraordinary, with more participation in goals than games. Pedro ended that season with 29 goals and ten assists in 59 matches, in addition to winning the title of best player on the continent.

In addition to his individual achievements, the center forward was one of the main names, alongside Gabigol, in winning the Libertadores and Copa do Brasil with Flamengo.