Good news! Pedro can reinforce Flamengo against Corinthians

The Brazilian national team is without a coach after the dismissal of Dorival Júnior , but that does not mean that the work at the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is at a standstill while waiting for a new coach. In the coming weeks, the national team's technical committee will continue to observe games and produce reports that will be delivered to the next coach hired for the position. And three names will share the duties.

With the remaining members of the coaching staff in charge, the task will be handled by Rodrigo Caetano, national team coordinator; Juan, technical coordinator; and Thomaz Araújo, national team performance analyst . Some observations will be made on-site, that is, in the stadiums, and one of them will be the match between Flamengo and Central Córdoba, in the second round of the group stage of the 2025 Libertadores.

The duel is scheduled for April 9 , Wednesday of next week, at Maracanã. The ball starts rolling at 9:30 pm (Brasília time). Before watching Flamengo's game against the Argentine team, however, the path goes through the game between Botafogo and Juventude, at Engenhão. Valid for the Brasileirão, the duel takes place this Saturday (5).

NEW COACH

At this time, the CBF's plan is to have a new coach for the next FIFA Date, in June. There, the team will have commitments against Ecuador and Paraguay, both for the World Cup Qualifiers.

We aim to define this situation for the games against Ecuador and Paraguay"

"The main focus is on our meetings with President Ednaldo, to define the name of the national team coach as quickly as possible. Our objective is to define this situation for the games against Ecuador and Paraguay" , said Caetano.

OBSERVATION OF GAMES

Watching Flamengo's games makes sense, since the club usually has a high number of players called up, not just for Brazil. In Dorival's last call-up, the coach took Léo Ortiz, Gerson, Wesley and Danilo. The last of them got injured and ended up being replaced by another Flamengo player, Alex Sandro. Gerson ended up being cut after feeling pain against Colombia and was found to be physically impaired.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT MATCH

Before thinking about Central Córdoba, however, Flamengo has two games ahead. This Thursday, the opponent will be Deportivo Táchira-VEN, in the Libertadores debut, at 9:30 pm . From Venezuela, Rubro-Negro heads straight to Bahia, where they will face Vitória on Sunday, at Barradão. For the second round of the Brazilian Championship, the game starts at 6:30 pm.

Flamengo takes to the field this Thursday (03), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), to face Deportivo Táchira (VEN) in the debut of the group stage of the Libertadores. The match will be played at the Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo Stadium , in Venezuela. While the red-black team will be very weakened , the Venezuelan club will be practically complete.

TÁCHIRA WILL HAVE MAXIMUM STRENGTH

Coach Pérez Greco will have practically the entire squad available, with the exception of defender Lucas Acevedo, who will be out. The Venezuelan team's standout players include:

• Carlos Vivas (defender of the Venezuelan National Team)
• Maurice Cova (midfielder)
• Lucas Cano (Argentine striker)

FLAMENGO HAS IMPORTANT SKILLS

On the other hand, Flamengo will have significant absences . Coach Filipe Luís will be without striker Pedro and full-back Viña, who are recovering from knee injuries. Midfielders Arrascaeta and Gerson and defender Danilo complained of thigh pain and will also be out. After the FIFA International Day, full-back Wesley and striker Plata showed signs of physical fatigue.

FLAMENGO SEEKS TO BREAK TABOOS IN THE LIBERTADORES

Flamengo has not won away from home in the Libertadores since 2022 , when they beat Vélez Sarsfield (ARG) 4-0 in the semifinals. Now, the team is looking to end this drought and start the competition on the right foot. In the last two debuts in the competition, Mais Querido did not win and wants to end this streak. In 2023, the red-black team was defeated by Aucas , who had never played in the tournament. In 2024, the Rio de Janeiro club drew with Millonarios , from Colombia.

FLAMENGO X DEPORTIVO TÁCHIRA

The match between Flamengo and Deportivo Táchira takes place this Thursday (3), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time). The clash that marks Mengão's debut in the 2025 Libertadores will be broadcast live on Disney+ (streaming) and ESPN (pay TV).

Deportivo Táchira is one of the most successful teams in Venezuela, having won 11 national titles, second only to Caracas. In the last five years, the team has shown strength by winning four local championships, consolidating its position in the country's sports scene.

With 24 appearances in the Libertadores, Deportivo Táchira is the Venezuelan team with the most appearances in the competition . Their best campaign was in 2004, when they reached the quarterfinals. However, recent performances have not been impressive, which could represent an advantage for Mengão .

PLAYERS TO STAR IN THIS SEASON

Deportivo Táchira is fighting for the title of the Apertura Tournament in Venezuela, occupying second place and tied on points with three other teams. Among the most relevant names is Maurice Cova, a midfielder responsible for creating plays. Another standout is José Balza, who contributes with intensity in the offensive sector.

Maurice Cova, who recently recovered from injury, returned to scoring goals in the last game, but his fitness may be a factor to watch. Up front, Argentine Lucas Cano is still looking for his first goal of the season and could be out due to injury.

DEFENSIVE STRATEGY

To face Flamengo , Deportivo Táchira must adopt a defensive posture , using a line of five players in defense. Unlike other Venezuelan clubs, which suffer from low fan attendance, Táchira usually fills its stands, creating a hostile environment for visitors.