CBF defines referee for Flamengo vs Cruzeiro in the 26th round of the Brasileirão

With only two defeats in 24 matches played , Flamengo remains firm in the search for the 2025 Brazilian Championship title. The team led by Filipe Luís beat Corinthians this Sunday (28), at Neo Química Arena, and extended its advantage over its direct rivals.

Rubro-Negro reached 54 points in 24 games, while Leonardo Jardim's Cruzeiro has 50 points in 25 matches . Abel Ferreira's Palmeiras, in turn, played 23 matches and reached 49 points.

FLAMENGO IS THE FAVORITE

According to projections from the Mathematics Department at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Flamengo has a 52.9% chance of lifting the trophy at the end of the season . This would be the first time Flamengo has won the Brasileirão since 2022.

Palmeiras comes in second with 30.1%, and Cruzeiro comes right behind with 15.3% . Also according to the survey, Mirassol (1.2%) and Bahia (0.39%) appear as underdogs in the race for the national title.

NEXT ROUND

Flamengo 's next match will be against Cruzeiro on Thursday (Maracanã), in a direct clash for the lead in the Brasileirão . Palmeiras will face Vasco on Wednesday at Allianz Parque in São Paulo.

Flamengo widened its lead over its rivals at the top of the Brazilian Championship by defeating Corinthians 2-1 in Itaquera. Still in the first half, in the 13th minute, with the score at 0-0, goalkeeper Rossi was decisive again. This time, he saved a penalty from Yuri Alberto, who was sitting on the pitch , catching the ball after the striker's chipped shot.

The Argentine press praised the goalkeeper's performance. TyC Sports described it as: " A marvelous goalkeeper: Rossi saved a penalty with a chip shot while sitting down. After receiving the ball, the 30-year-old goalkeeper showed his contempt for the experienced striker, making a clear 'not like that' gesture with his index finger ."

Meanwhile, the newspaper "Olé" highlighted: " Flamengo's goalkeeper shone again on the penalty kick. Yuri Alberto's arrogance allowed him to keep the ball. The experienced Corinthians striker made a terrible decision: he dug in absurdly, and the Argentine goalkeeper saved it almost sitting down, with little effort ."

FLAMENGO OVERCOMES YURI ALBERTO'S GOAL

In the second half, Corinthians opened the scoring through Yuri Alberto, but Flamengo quickly responded. Arrascaeta equalized, and Luiz Araújo scored the winning goal, securing the three points and solidifying Flamengo's lead in the Brazilian Championship.

ARRASCAETA HIGHLIGHTS PERSONALITY

After the match, Arrascaeta praised his teammate's performance: " 2019 was magical. We went through these things. We won and grew stronger even when playing poorly. Knowing that when you're not playing well, everyone works hard until they do. Then there are players of great quality who make a difference. Today was another game like that. Rossi showed his personality ," the midfielder declared.

Flamengo secured a crucial victory over Corinthians, coming from behind to win 2-1, with goals from Arrascaeta and Luiz Araújo. The result secured the team's lead and extended the Rubro-Negro's lead over its direct rivals in the standings.

At the post-match press conference, coach Filipe Luís acknowledged Corinthians' strong performance in the first half . He also emphasized that the limited training and rest time compromised the team's performance, which came close to defeat in the first 45 minutes.

MICHAEL LOSES SPACE IN THE CAST

The strong and qualified squad led by Filipe Luís has increased competition for spots, and some players have ended up losing their place, such as Michael. According to Bolavip Brasil, the athlete is uncomfortable with his current situation , even being left off some rosters.

After the Club World Cup, Michael was on the bench against Bayern Munich and São Paulo , but then suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for several rounds. Even after recovering, he remained unavailable, being left out of several squad lists.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT COMMITMENT

Flamengo 's next match will be against Cruzeiro, on Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm, at Maracanã. The duel pits the top two teams in the competition against each other . The match marks the reunion with Gabigol in Rio de Janeiro.