AFTER FASTING WITHOUT ACTING, FLAMENGO ATTACKER RETURNS TO THE MAIN TEAM AGAINST GRÊMIO

Flamengo and Grêmio face each other again this Sunday (22) for the Brazilian Championship, in a match that promises to be hot. The recent history between the two teams shows a clear advantage for Flamengo, which wants to maintain its superiority and increase the so-called "freguesia" over its rival from Rio Grande do Sul.

In recent seasons, Flamengo has had the better of most of the clashes against Grêmio, especially in decisive moments. Victories in important competitions, such as Copa do Brasil and Libertadores, strengthened this narrative. Among fans, the term “freguesia” began to be used recurrently to describe Flamengo's sequence of triumphs over the Gauchos.

Grêmio, despite being one of the biggest clubs in Brazilian football , has suffered at the hands of the Rio team, especially in knockout clashes and important games. Since the arrival of Jorge Jesus in 2019, Flamengo has become one of the most feared teams in the country, winning important titles and maintaining regularity at a high level. Grêmio, on the other hand, had ups and downs and was unable to follow the same evolution.

This Sunday's duel promises to be another chapter in this story. Playing at home, Grêmio will try to reverse their recent record and seek a victory that can serve as redemption. Flamengo , even playing away from home, enters the field confident, knowing that the pressure is more on the opponent's shoulders.

Currently, Flamengo continues to seek to consolidate itself among the top placed teams in the Brasileirão, while the Grêmio struggles to remain competitive. For the Rio team, a victory in the South would be another opportunity to strengthen its dominance over the opponent, in addition to adding three important points in the title race. For Grêmio, beating Flamengo would be the chance to reverse this "parish" and show that it is still capable of competing on equal terms with the giants of national football.

The Flamengoarrives at a crucial moment of the season, where the marathon of games between competitions requires strategic decisions from the coaching staff. Midfielder Gerson, one of the most important players in the squad, recently completed 40 consecutive matches, and his preservation for the next Libertadores clash, against Peñarol, has become a priority. For this reason, the athlete will not be available for the Brazilian Championship game against Grêmio.

The decision to spare Gerson is part of the coach's strategy to keep the midfielder in ideal conditions for the competition continental, where Flamengo is looking for a decisive turnaround. The sequence of 40 games is a significant milestone, both in terms of physical performance and contribution to the team, demonstrating the player's regularity and importance within the team.

Known for his versatility on the field, Gerson plays multiple roles in midfield, both defensive and offensive, earning the nickname “Joker” in the red and black squad. He stands out for his ability to occupy different spaces on the field, whether helping to release the ball, directing the game in the middle, or even helping in defense.

This performance has been vital in Flamengoin several competitions, and the sequence of games reinforces how essential the player has been to the tactical scheme. However, the high number of matches also requires special attention from the coaching staff in terms of preventing injuries and physical exhaustion.

The closing of the Brazilian Championship on December 6th had an unusual outcome: in addition to the match that saw São Paulo victorious over Flamengo 1-0, players from the Brazilian football elite elected, anonymously through a survey carried out by Uol Esporte, Arrascaeta as the most skilled player in the Brasileirão. On the other hand, Fagner, from Corinthians, was considered the most violent by his peers.

ARRASCAETA SHINE IN THE 2023 SEASON

At the end of the 2023 season, Arrascaeta, playing for Flamengo, competed 54 games, scoring 11 goals and providing 13 assists. With a direct participation in 24 of Mais Querido's goals, the number 14 accumulated 3,881 minutes on the field, wearing the Sacred Mantle. Despite a performance hampered by injuries throughout the season, Arrascaeta demonstrated his quality when he was on the field, contributing significantly to the team's performance.

For next year, the expectation is that the Uruguayan player will improve improve its performance. Last season was marked by physical challenges that limited his participation, but the athlete is looking to recover to contribute fully to Flamengo in 2024.

FLAMENGO IN SEARCH FOR REDEMPTION

Flamengo has closed the 2024 season without winning any trophies in seven tournaments played, including the Campeonato Brasileiro, Copa do Brasil, Libertadores and Carioca. Now, the fans and the team, led by Tite, are placing their hopes in Arrascaeta to boost the team's performance and seek redemption in the next challenges.

While Arrascaeta enjoys his well-deserved vacation, the player, who married civilly on December 19th, he is preparing for the wedding party with Camila Bastiani, scheduled for the 29th of this month, in Uruguay. The number 24 is scheduled to return to Flamengo on January 8th, at 2pm (Brasília time), to begin preparations for the next season.

The election of Arrascaeta's own colleagues as the most skilled player in the Campeonato Brasileiro highlights not only his skills on the field, but also the high esteem that his professional colleagues have for his talent. With the 2024 season approaching, the expectation is that Arrascaeta will continue to be a key player in Flamengo's quest for titles and achievements.