Ayrton Lucas criticizes the Arena Castelão pitch after Flamengo's victory: "the pitch doesn't..."

Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (03) to face Ceará, at Arena Castelão, for the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship. The match is scheduled for 6:30 pm (Brasília time) and promises a full house in Fortaleza .

WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME?

The match between Ceará and Flamengo will not be broadcast on Rede Globo , which has opted to show the match between Botafogo and Cruzeiro. However, fans can watch the match live on broadcast TV on Record, as well as on YouTube via CazéTV, or on Premiere (pay-per-view).

HOW IS FLAMENGO DOING IN THE TABLE?

After beating Atlético-MG in the last round, Flamengo took the lead in the Brasileirão with 36 points . Cruzeiro, who lost to Ceará, dropped to second place with 34 points. Flamengo will be looking to maintain its top spot with another away win.

FLAMENGO'S SQUAD SQUADS FOR THE MATCH

Coach Filipe Luís is still dealing with a series of important absences . Striker Michael is out of the game with ankle pain, as is midfielder Erick Pulgar, who is recovering from a fractured right foot suffered at the Club World Cup.

Midfielder Nicolás De La Cruz is still recovering from his physical condition and will also be unavailable. Forwards Everton Cebolinha and Luiz Araújo were rested due to pressure management . Pedro and Wallace Yan are also out, but due to accumulated yellow cards.

Flamengo has a big challenge this Sunday (03), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), against Ceará, at Arena Castelão, for the 18th round of the Brasileirão. The expectation is total pressure on Rubro-Negro , since all tickets were sold in advance - a full house guaranteed in Fortaleza.

Flamengo , the current leader of the competition, faces a Ceará side buoyed by their victory over Cruzeiro in the last round . Coach Léo Condé is expected to maintain the core of the team that surprised at Mineirão, betting on repeating the same formula to try to knock out another favorite.

CEARÁ'S PROBABLE LINEUP

With no new injuries reported, the Northeastern team is expected to field the following players : Bruno Ferreira; Fabiano Souza, Marcos Victor, Willian Machado, and Matheus Bahia; Richardson, Dieguinho, and Lourenço; Pedro Henrique, Galeano, and Pedro Raul. Defender Luiz Otávio, in the final stages of physical reconditioning, remains the only player missing.

SQUADS AND REINFORCEMENTS AT FLAMENGO

Flamengo , meanwhile, will have two key absences. Goalkeeper Matheus Cunha was diagnosed with patellar tendinitis in his left knee and is out. Striker Luiz Araújo will be rested due to physical activity management . As a result, youngster Léo Nannetti, a standout from the youth academy, was included at the last minute and joins Dyogo Alves as an option in goal. Agustín Rossi will start.

Meanwhile, Filipe Luís will have important reinforcements. Midfielder Victor Hugo, back at the club after a stint in Turkish football, is available again. New signings Saúl Ñíguez, Samuel Lino, and Emerson Royal are also available for the match —all expected to make their second appearances for the red-and-black team. Strikers Michael and Everton Cebolinha, midfielder Nico De La Cruz, and defender Danilo are out due to fitness issues.

Leader of the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (03) to face Ceará, away from home, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Arena Castelão. The team led by Filipe Luís seeks to maintain the top of the table , but will have to deal with important absences for the match of the 18th round.

IMPORTANT RETURNS IN THE FLAMENGO LINEUP

Meanwhile, Filipe Luís will have some players back who were rested for the Copa do Brasil clash against Atlético-MG. Arrascaeta, who wasn't even included in the squad, and Jorginho, who didn't make the bench, will return to the starting lineup this Sunday. Therefore, Flamengo 's likely starting lineup to face Ceará is : Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Ayrton Lucas (Alex Sandro); Allan, Jorginho, and Arrascaeta; Bruno Henrique, Samuel Lino, and Gonzalo Plata.

The coach also has some solid options on the bench. Juninho could appear in attack, while Matheus Gonçalves, who started in the last game, could return to midfield . In defense, Uruguayan Viña remains an alternative, and Spaniard Saúl Ñíguez, who made a strong debut against Galo, is also among those named.

EMBARRASSMENTS

Among the absentees are Danilo, who remains off the roster, and Luiz Araújo, who was left out due to fitness monitoring . Erick Pulgar, still recovering from an injury, is also out, as are Pedro and Wallace Yan, both suspended. Another absence is goalkeeper Matheus Cunha, diagnosed with patellar tendonitis in his left knee.

THE GAME

The clash between Flamengo and Ceará for the 18th round of the Brasileirão is this Sunday (3) at 6:30 pm (Brasília time) at Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza. The match will be broadcast by Record, on Open TV, by CazéTV, on YouTube, and by Premiere , on pay-per-view.