Check out Flamengo's likely lineup to face Botafogo-PB in the Copa do Brasil

Flamengo failed to break the deadlock against Cruzeiro in a match held last Thursday (2) at Maracanã, for the Brasileirão. After the match, player Saúl analyzed the team's current form and lamented recent results. " We have to be much hungrier to win games. It's a shame that, in the last three games, despite the good work we've been doing, we haven't been able to get three points," said the athlete.

The midfielder also expressed dissatisfaction with the match's refereeing, highlighting the lack of discretion in the calls. " We told him that the most important thing was to keep the game flowing , but he handed out too many unnecessary yellow cards and stopped the game too much. He should let the game play! These weren't hard fouls, but tactical ones," he added.

HOW WAS THE GAME?

In a head-to-head clash at the top of the table, Flamengo and Cruzeiro played a tight match at the Maracanã. In the first half, the Minas Gerais team closed well, preventing any major scoring chances, and threatened the red-and-black team, which was saved by Rossi and Alex Sandro.

In the second half, after Filipe Luís's changes, Cruzeiro managed to create more opportunities , but failed to break down the opposing defense, with only two clear chances. Cruzeiro also barely threatened goalkeeper Rossi.

FLAMENGO X BAHIA

With three consecutive draws at Maracanã, Flamengo now turns its focus to its next match. On Sunday (5), at 6:30 pm, it faces Bahia at Arena Fonte Nova, in Salvador . The match will be valid for the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship, with exclusive broadcast by Premiere.

Coach Néstor Lorenzo released Colombia's squad list for the friendlies against Mexico and Canada, and one notable absence was Jorge Carrascal . The midfielder, who is often included in the squad, was left out this time. For Flamengo, the news comes at a good time, as it reduces the risk of absences during the next FIFA World Cup.

CARRASCAL GAINS SPACE IN THE RUBRO-NEGRO

Under Filipe Luís, the Colombian has been gaining more and more ground and is already competing for a starting spot. Initially signed as an alternative to Arrascaeta , Carrascal has shown he can play alongside the Uruguayan . In recent matches, he has played wide on the right flank and has received praise for his performances.

FIFA DATE IS A CHALLENGE FOR FLAMENGO

The FIFA International Day is often a nightmare for the red-and-black squad. Besides the physical risk, the call-ups often coincide with crucial matches. On October 15th, Flamengo faces Botafogo in the Brasileirão, a match scheduled very close to the national team's matches.

Brazil, for example, plays in Japan on the 14th, which would make it virtually impossible for the players to return immediately . Colombia, on the other hand, plays at home on the same day, but in the evening, without allowing adequate recovery time.

So far, Flamengo has avoided being called up by the Brazilian national team, which included five of the club's players on its preliminary list. With Carrascal out of the squad, attention now turns to Uruguay, which could include Arrascaeta, Viña, De La Cruz, and Varela . Ecuador, with Gonzalo Plata, is also expected to call up the striker, increasing the likelihood of at least one confirmed absence.

SELECTION SCHEDULE

• Uruguay: faces Dominican Republic (10/10) and Uzbekistan (13/10).
• Ecuador: faces the United States (10/10) and Mexico (14/10).

On Thursday night (02), at Maracanã, Cruzeiro held Flamengo to a goalless draw. After the match, coach Leonardo Jardim highlighted the collective strength and discipline of his players as decisive factors for the good performance against the opponent.

" It's about believing in the quality of our players and working within a collective strategy. Anyone who wears the Cruzeiro jersey needs to have this ability on any pitch, without being intimidated by the opponent. Attitude is key. We don't always win, but commitment must be present," said the coach.

The Portuguese manager praised the squad's performance and emphasized that their dedication was essential. " In terms of commitment and quality , we have to demonstrate that in any stadium, and that's what the players demonstrated," he added.

Technician issues warning

Despite the strong performance against Flamengo , Jardim made a point of emphasizing that the run of form will be crucial to solidifying the results. " We earned four points against Flamengo, which is unlikely to be achieved by any other team. But I made it clear to the group: this point will only be valuable if we beat Sport on Sunday at Mineirão," warned the coach, already looking ahead to the next Brazilian Championship match.

NEXT APPOINTMENT

Flamengo returns to the field on Sunday (5), at 6:30 pm, against Bahia, at Arena Fonte Nova, in Salvador. The match is valid for the 27th round of the Brasileirão. The broadcast of the match will be carried out by Premiere (pay-per-view) for all of Brazil.