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.

The Rubro-negra lineup follows: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."

With several casualties in the offensive sector, Bruno Henrique, 33 years old, will be the main name in Flamengo's attack in the next matches. The striker, who stands out for his long-standing partnership with Arrascaeta, believes that this harmony will be fundamental for the team to maintain its good performance in the competitions it competes in, such as the Brazilian Championship, the Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil.

"We are the players at the front. Arrascaeta is a classic midfielder, who knows how to create plays and finish. Being close to him increases the chances of scoring and assisting. With his quality and the more than six years we have played together, we understand each other just by looking at each other", stated Bruno Henrique in an interview with ESPN.

Flamengo will no longer have Pedro and Everton Cebolinha until the end of the season. Furthermore, Michael and Luiz Araújo are only expected to return to the pitch in the final stretch of 2024. Gabigol, who also faces physical problems, has been used less frequently. With this series of absences, the leading role falls to Bruno Henrique, who has the mission of leading the red and black attack at a decisive moment of the season.

To make up the offensive sector, Mais Querido also has newcomers Gonzalo Plata and Carlinhos, as well as young promises from the club's youth categories. Despite the losses, the expectation is that Bruno Henrique's experience and quality will be enough to keep the team competitive in competitions.