Tite defined Flamengo and announced the 11 starters who will face Peñarol, this Thursday, at Maracanã, at 7pm. De la Cruz returns to the starting lineup in place of Léo Ortiz, and Alex Sandro and Plata were retained. The duel with the Uruguayans is the first between the teams in the quarter-finals of the Copa Conmebol Libertadores.

The Rubro-negra lineup follows:Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Pulgar, De la Cruz, Gerson and Arrascaeta; Plata and Bruno Henrique.

Alex Sandro and Plata, debutants in last Sunday's classic, remain in the team after having good performances in the draw against Vasco. Gabigol is now out of the relationship due to fibrosis in the posterior muscle of his right thigh. Flamengo, in a statement, reported that the athlete did not suffer any injury in the region. Check it out:

"The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo informs that the athlete Gabriel Barbosa underwent tests that did not diagnose an injury to the posterior muscle of his right thigh. However, the Technical Committee opted for precaution and did not list him for the duel against Peñarol due to fibrosis in the region. Gabi is handed over to physiotherapists and physical trainers for the series of decisive games of the season."

The closing of the Brazilian Championship on December 6th had an unusual outcome: in addition to the match that saw São Paulo victorious over Flamengo 1-0, players from the Brazilian football elite elected, anonymously through a survey carried out by Uol Esporte, Arrascaeta as the most skilled player in the Brasileirão. On the other hand, Fagner, from Corinthians, was considered the most violent by his peers.

ARRASCAETA SHINE IN THE 2023 SEASON

At the end of the 2023 season, Arrascaeta, playing for Flamengo, competed 54 games, scoring 11 goals and providing 13 assists. With a direct participation in 24 of Mais Querido's goals, the number 14 accumulated 3,881 minutes on the field, wearing the Sacred Mantle. Despite a performance hampered by injuries throughout the season, Arrascaeta demonstrated his quality when he was on the field, contributing significantly to the team's performance.

For next year, the expectation is that the Uruguayan player will improve improve its performance. Last season was marked by physical challenges that limited his participation, but the athlete is looking to recover to contribute fully to Flamengo in 2024.

FLAMENGO IN SEARCH FOR REDEMPTION

Flamengo has closed the 2024 season without winning any trophies in seven tournaments played, including the Campeonato Brasileiro, Copa do Brasil, Libertadores and Carioca. Now, the fans and the team, led by Tite, are placing their hopes in Arrascaeta to boost the team's performance and seek redemption in the next challenges.

While Arrascaeta enjoys his well-deserved vacation, the player, who married civilly on December 19th, he is preparing for the wedding party with Camila Bastiani, scheduled for the 29th of this month, in Uruguay. The number 24 is scheduled to return to Flamengo on January 8th, at 2pm (Brasília time), to begin preparations for the next season.

The election of Arrascaeta's own colleagues as the most skilled player in the Campeonato Brasileiro highlights not only his skills on the field, but also the high esteem that his professional colleagues have for his talent. With the 2024 season approaching, the expectation is that Arrascaeta will continue to be a key player in Flamengo's quest for titles and achievements.