BOTAFOGO BEATS PALMEIRAS, ISOLATES ITSELF IN THE LEADERSHIP AND CALLS FLAMENGO ALERTA; SEE THE UPDATED BRASILEIRÃO TABLE

Flamengo officially announced the lineup to face Estudiantes this Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time) , at Maracanã, for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. With important returns, coach Filipe Luís is betting on maximum strength to start with an advantage in the continental clash.

Defender Léo Ortiz, who missed last weekend due to suspension , returns to the starting lineup. Bruno Henrique, who also missed the match against Juventude, is confirmed in the squad. The team maintains the core of the squad that has been playing with Filipe Luís.

CHECK THE LINEUP

Filipe Luís will send onto the field against Estudiantes: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas; Saúl, De La Cruz and Arrascaeta; Plata, Pedro and Samuel Lino.

FLAMENGO'S SHORTAGES

Alex Sandro (calf) and Jorginho (thigh) are still recovering and are already working on the field, but individually. The same goes for Pulgar, who is transitioning with physical therapy and is expected to begin training with the group only at the end of September.

FULL HOUSE AT MARACANÃ

The Red-Black Nation promises another great party . All tickets were sold in advance, guaranteeing the presence of over 69,000 fans . This should be Flamengo 's largest crowd in this edition of the Libertadores. The expectation is to repeat the solid performance of the round of 16, when the team eliminated Internacional with two wins and qualified 3-0 on aggregate.

Defender Gil, 38, has officially announced his retirement from professional football. In an interview with TV Record, the former defender confirmed the end of his playing career: " A new phase, I'm retiring from football. It's decided ."

Gil, ex-Corinthians, when declaring retirement: "the only thing missing was playing for Flamengo"

A STRIKING CAREER AT CORINTHIANS

Gil built a remarkable relationship with Corinthians , a club he played for twice. Between 2013 and 2016, he was a key player in Tite's squad, crowning the period with the 2015 Brazilian Championship title . He returned to Corinthians in 2019 and, during his second stint, reached the impressive milestone of 400 appearances for the club.

AN UNFULFILLED DREAM

Despite his solid history at Corinthians, Gil revealed a dream he never fulfilled: playing for Flamengo . " I did everything I wanted, the only thing missing was playing for Flamengo . Not everything is perfect. I'm grateful for the career I've built," he declared.

LAST EXPERIENCE FOR SANTOS

The final chapter of his career was at Santos, where he played in the 2024 Série B. The defender played an important role in the club's promotion to Série A , but lost his place in the squad and terminated his contract in August of the same year. Shortly thereafter, he decided to hang up his boots.

Having also played in Chinese football and enjoyed a solid career in Brazil, Gil ended his career as one of the greatest defenders of the last decade , recognized for his consistency, physical strength, and leadership on the field. In total, the former player appeared in 865 matches, scoring 43 goals and contributing 15 assists.

Flamengo takes to the field this Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), to face Estudiantes, at Maracanã, for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores. Coach Filipe Luís is betting on full strength to try to open up an advantage before the decision in Argentina.

Coach Filipe Luís is expected to field a full-strength squad against the Argentines: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Ayrton Lucas; Saúl, De La Cruz, and Arrascaeta; Plata, Pedro, and Samuel Lino. The game will be broadcast live on Flamengo TV and with exclusive footage on ESPN.

CHECK IT OUT LIVE

RETURNS AND DEFAULTS

Defender Léo Ortiz, suspended in the last round of the Brasileirão, returns to the starting lineup. Bruno Henrique, who missed the match against Juventude, is also confirmed among the squad . The core of the team remains the same as that which has been playing under Filipe Luís.

Alex Sandro (calf) and Jorginho (thigh) are still recovering and are working individually on the field. Pulgar is also in the transition phase with physical therapy and is expected to return to training with the group only at the end of September.