BOTAFOGO IS ONLY IN A DRAW WITH VASCO, AND FLAMENGO REMAINS IN THE LEAD; CHECK OUT THE UPDATED TABLE

The Flamengo beat Atlético-Mg in the MRV Arena and isolated themselves at the top of the Brasileirão with 30 points. The duel against the Mineiros also ended up marking a new beginning for one of Rio's red-black players. That's because striker Carlinhos started the match and scored his first goal with the sacred mantle. In an interview, the player spoke about the moment, the goal and the mourning due to the recent death of his mother.

"(I would say) he is a winner. I'm a guy who never gave up. I lost my mother a few years ago. 15 days, I'm still grieving. It's been difficult, but I have to continue. As I always think, she dressed me in her armor. When she saw that I was ready, she left. me to say this. I know that she is in the arms of the Lord, and that is what comforts me. I want to tell (to Carlinhos at the beginning of the year) that I arrived here due to God's merit and my work", said Carlinhos, at half-time.

Carlinhos made his debut in the first round of the Brasileirão, against Atlético-GO, and then again had the opportunity as a starter against Palmeiras. The striker spent just 45 minutes on the field at Allianz. Carlinhos only played again against Juventude, but only spent four minutes on the field.

The chance to start against Atlético-MG came due to the physical exhaustion of Pedro, who is going through a sequence of games. Carlinhos scored the goal in the 24th minute after a play by Luiz Araújo and Wesley. The full-back shot, but the ball hit the post, and the number 22, well positioned, put it into the back of the net.

This Wednesday (3), Cuiabá fought until the end, but ended up defeated by Botafogo, 2-1, in the Arena Pantanal, in a game valid for the 14th round of the Brazilian Championship. In addition to losing their streak of five unbeaten games, Cuiabá already knows that they will have two absences for the next game, against Flamengo.

Cuiabá entered the field with four players suspended, and two of them received cards yellow and are suspended from the next round. The team's starting midfielder, Filipe Augusto was warned 11 minutes into the second half, for stepping on the opposing player after losing control of the ball.

Who also doesn't face Flamengo is striker André Luís. Reserve from the Mato Grosso team, the player left the bench in the 19th minute of the second half, replacing Clayson, and in the final stretch of the match, in the 40th minute, he received a yellow card after a foul on full-back Cuiabano.

Flamengo x Cuiabá

Flamengo and Cuiabá face each other next Saturday, July 6th, in a game valid for the 15th round of the Brazilian Championship. The match will be played at Maracanã, and the ball starts at 8pm (Brasília time). Initially, the match was scheduled for 9pm (Brasília time), but the CBF confirmed the change in time due to Brazil's game in the Copa América.

In the current round of the Brasileirão, Cuiabá hosts Botafogo, but is already at risk of having four absences against Flamengo, on Saturday, the 6th, at Maracanã, at 8pm (Brasília time). This is because four players are suspended in the clash against the Black and Whites this Wednesday (3): André Luís, Fernando Sobral, Filipe Augusto and Raylan.

Therefore, if they are warned with yellow cards, the Dourado athletes will be out of the duel against Mengão next weekend. Even if he knows about the possibility of absences against Flamengo, coach Petit should enter the field against Botafogo with two names on the list: Fernando Sobral and Filipe Augusto.

Cuiabá's likely team to face Botafogo is composed of: Walter; Matheus Alexandre, Marllon, Alan Empereur and Ramon; Filipe Augusto, Fernando Sobral and Denilson; Jonathan Cafú, Clayson and Isidro Pitta. Flamengo already has two hanging in this round: defender Léo Ortiz and midfielder Allan. Rubro-Negro faces Atlético-MG, at Arena MRV.

Of the four Cuiabá names that are suspended: André Luís, Fernando Sobral, Filipe Augusto and Raylan, only three play frequently. Between midfielders Sobral and Filipe Augusto, Filipe has been gaining more opportunities in the starting team, being selected as a starter in the last two rounds.

However, even though he is a reserve, Fernando Sobral was used in all of the last five games . In this clip, Raylan was a starter in the 1-1 draw against Red Bull Bragantino, but came off the bench in the matches against São Paulo (1-0 win) and Atlético-GO (0-0 draw).

Forward André Luís doesn't play often, but received yellow cards against Criciúma and Red Bull Bragantino, when entering the second stage.