Soccer

Botafogo loses star and will have a more conservative team against Flamengo in this Sunday's classic

Attacking midfielder feels pain in his thigh and is out of the game at Maracanã; coach Renato Paiva should field Allan, a defensive midfielder by trade, in the attacking sector

 Attacking midfielder has been one of the main names in the General Severiano team's comeback Credit: Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Attacking midfielder has been one of the main names in the General Severiano team's comeback Credit: Vítor Silva/Botafogo

17 Mai 2025 | 21:12 |

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The attacking midfielder, who wears the number 7 shirt for the black and white team, felt pain in his thigh and did not participate in the last training session before the match. The information was initially released by journalist Venê Casagrande and confirmed by the club later. Artur is Botafogo's leader in assists in 2025, with four assists, and has been on the rise in recent matches.




Against Estudiantes, in the South American, he scored for the third time this year. In his last two appearances, he scored two goals and provided two assists, being a key player in the offensive sector. Without being able to count on the player, coach Renato Paiva indicated in training that the option will be a more cautious Botafogo . The chosen one for the position should be Allan, a defensive midfielder by trade, which changes the team's profile to a more reactive model at Maracanã.



DEAREST CAN USE THE OPPORTUNITY


Artur 's absence adds to other important absences in the black and white squad. Full-back Barboza, midfielder Savarino and forwards Matheus Martins and Mastriani are also out of the match. Botafogo's likely starting lineup, with these absences, is: John; Vitinho, Jair, David Ricardo and Alex Telles; Gregore, Marlon Freitas and Allan; Rwan Cruz, Igor Jesus and Cuiabano.


FLAMENGO COMES WITH FULL STRENGTH

On the other side, Flamengo arrives under pressure due to the need to maintain a direct fight with Palmeiras for the top of the table. Even after the exhaustion of the match against LDU in the Libertadores, the tendency is for Filipe Luís to bring his best to the field. The likely red-and-black team for the classic is: Rossi; Wesley, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira (Danilo) and Alex Sandro; Evertton Araújo, De La Cruz and Arrascaeta; Luiz Araújo, Michael and Bruno Henrique (Pedro).


Artur's absence represents a loss of technical ability and mobility in Botafogo's midfield. He had been the team's most active player in the final third of the field, especially on the right. His ability to accelerate and pass between the lines was seen as a direct threat to Flamengo's defense.



Soccer

OFFICIAL! Flamengo renews with Guillermo Varela until 2027

The full-back was in agreement with Mengão in the last few months, but reached an agreement and will remain with the red-black shirt for another two years.

Flamengo agrees to renew Guillermo Varela's contract until December 2027 - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo
Flamengo agrees to renew Guillermo Varela's contract until December 2027 - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo

15 Ago 2025 | 18:40 |

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Flamengo officially renewed Guillermo Varela's contract until December 2027 this Friday (15), as previously reported by Gazeta do Urubu.   . The signing took place at Ninho do Urubu, with the presence of the football technical director, José Boto.


An important player for Filipe Luís in 2025, Varela has played 35 games this season, starting 21 of them, scoring one goal and providing three assists. His versatility, also playing as a left-back and defensive midfielder, reinforces his value to the coaching staff.


Varela on the deal with Flamengo: "Everything was done very calmly"
VARELA DOESN'T HIDE HIS JOY


Negotiations had been dragging on since the beginning of the year, involving discussions about contract length, bonuses, and salary . The deal ends a period of uncertainty, especially given Wesley's likely departure for European football.

"I'm very happy to stay here, a little longer wearing this shirt, with this club. It was a smooth negotiation for both parties. They wanted me to stay, and I wanted to stay . So, everything was done very smoothly," said the Uruguayan.


NUMBERS AND TITLES FOR FLAMENGO

Since arriving at Flamengo in 2022, Varela has played 108 matches and scored three goals . During this period, he won five titles: Libertadores (2022), Copa do Brasil (2024), Supercopa (2025) and two Campeonato Cariocas (2024 and 2025).

Chance as a starter

With the ankle sprain suffered by Emerson Royal in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores, Varela should take over as starter in the next matches against Internacional . Royal is practically out of this Sunday's duel (17), for the Brasileirão, and remains doubtful for the decisive match next Wednesday (20).


Soccer

Samuel Lino praises his Flamengo teammate: “great example…”

The striker quickly became one of the club's highlights after his arrival, but he makes a point of praising the Mengão veteran

Samuel Lino praises Bruno Henrique after Flamengo's victory over Internacional - Photo: Adriano Fontes/Flamengo
Samuel Lino praises Bruno Henrique after Flamengo's victory over Internacional - Photo: Adriano Fontes/Flamengo

15 Ago 2025 | 18:30 |

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After Flamengo's 1-0 victory over Internacional in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores Round of 16, Samuel Lino made a point of praising Bruno Henrique . The striker highlighted not only the number 27's technical quality, but especially his role as a leader of the squad.



Samuel Lino on Bruno Henrique at Flamengo: "he's a great example of a player"


"Bruno is a great player who has achieved a lot for Flamengo in recent years. He's a player of great quality, but I'd rather emphasize the person he is, our captain . He's always in the locker room talking to us," said Lino, who added:


"He's a role model, and it's great to have that kind of person around, because he's always looking out for the best for the group, helping everyone. Bruno is a great example of a player, of his career, of the victories he achieved at Flamengo . I hope to achieve the same as him here at Flamengo ," said the new number 16 of the Mais Querido.

BRUNO HENRIQUE: IDOL AND RECORD HOLDER

Bruno Henrique shares with Arrascaeta the title of greatest champion in the club's history , with 15 titles won: three Brazilian Championships, two Libertadores, one South American Recopa, three Super Cups, three Brazilian Cups and five Cariocas.

DECISIVE GOAL AGAINST INTER

In the match against Internacional, the striker scored the winning goal in the 27th minute of the first half , heading in a corner kick from Luiz Araújo. The result gives Flamengo the advantage for the return leg at Beira-Rio.

After the game, Bruno Henrique assessed the team's performance: "We took possession in the first half, and in the second, because we wanted to score quickly, we ended up opening up a bit . It's something we need to improve, especially in the first 15 minutes of the second half."

AGENDA

Flamengo will decide its place in the quarterfinals of the Libertadores next Wednesday (20), at Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre. Before that, it will face Internacional again this Sunday (17), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), for the Brasileirão . Mengão is the leader of the competition with 40 points, three more than the second-placed Cruzeiro.


Soccer

Journalist claims Jorge Jesus wouldn't do a better job at Flamengo today

The Portuguese coach commanded Mengão in the historic year of 2019, but the analyst guarantees that the coach would not be able to make the current team play more

Journalist claims that Flamengo's current squad is not capable of playing better than in 2019 even if Jorge Jesus were the coach - Photo: Reproduction
Journalist claims that Flamengo's current squad is not capable of playing better than in 2019 even if Jorge Jesus were the coach - Photo: Reproduction

15 Ago 2025 | 17:30 |

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Flamengo is enjoying a great run of form under Filipe Luís, leading some fans to dream of a repeat of the historic 2019 season , when, under Jorge Jesus, the club won the Brasileirão and Libertadores. However, ESPN journalist Paulo Cobos considers the comparison hasty.


Paulo Cobos on the current Flamengo: "The Portuguese wouldn't make the current squad play better"


"The Flamengo of 2025 won't be as good as Jorge Jesus's 2019, and that won't be Filipe Luís's fault . The current team has many players who have rarely played professionally in Brazil. Expensive reinforcements, like Emerson Royal, have just arrived and are already being booed," he stated.


Cobos also highlighted the difference in attack: "Any quartet that Filipe Luís fields is far from the splendor of Arrascaeta, Everton Ribeiro, Bruno Henrique, and Gabigol. It's clear that Jorge Jesus, in 2019, was much more experienced than Filipe is today , but even at his peak, the Portuguese wouldn't have made the current squad play any better than that team."

COMPARISON IN NUMBERS
  • Flamengo 2019 (Jorge Jesus): 74 games | 49 wins | 16 draws | 9 losses | 73.4% success rate | Carioca, Brazilian and Libertadores Champion.
  • Flamengo 2025 (Filipe Luís): 49 games | 32 wins | 10 draws | 7 losses | 72.1% success rate | Leader of the Brasileirão and victory in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores.
NEXT CHALLENGE


Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (17), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), against Internacional, at Beira-Rio, for the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship. Mengão is the leader of the Brasileirão with 40 points , three more than the vice-leader, Cruzeiro, but with one game less compared to the Minas Gerais club.


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