David Luiz talks about Tite's promise against Peñarol and sends a message to Flamengo fans: "we play for them"

Next Thursday (26), Flamengo and Peñarol (URU) will face each other in the quarter-finals of the Libertadores, in a confrontation that promises to be decisive. Peñarol's coach, Diego Aguirre, showed excitement for the duel at the Campeón del Siglo Stadium, where a place in the semi-finals of the main South American tournament will be at stake.

Last Sunday (22), Peñarol took the field in the Uruguayan Championship and beat Cerro 5-0. After the match, Aguirre was asked about the clash against Flamengo and classified the match as a “historic opportunity” for the Uruguayan club.

In the first game, held at Maracanã, Flamengo, in front of more than 64 thousand fans, was defeated 1-0 after a defensive failure. Now, the Rio team will need to seek a turnaround by playing away from home to stay alive in the competition.

The return match will take place at Campeón del Siglo Stadium, in Montevideo, at 7pm (Brasília time). To advance directly to the semi-finals, Flamengo needs to win by two or more goals difference. If the aggregate score ends in a draw, the decision will be on penalties.

The Flamengo is once again in the spotlight, this time not just for its results on the field, but for off-field issues that could have financial and sporting consequences. Conmebol filed complaints against the club due to the behavior of its fans and an infraction committed by coach Tite, in a situation that may seem trivial, but which involves important commercial aspects for professional football.

The first complaint concerns the behavior of the red and black fans in the game against Peñarol, valid for the Libertadores. During the match, flares and bombs were lit and thrown into the North Sector of Maracanã, a sector traditionally occupied by organized Flamengo fans. This type of behavior is prohibited by Conmebol rules, and the club can be held responsible for not having adequately controlled the actions of its fans.

Another point that caught the attention of Conmebolwas a mistake by coach Tite during the post-game press conference. According to the rules imposed by the entity, all team members, especially coaches and players, must respect the commercial agreements signed by Conmebol with sponsors. During the interview, Tite was seen holding a bottle that did not belong to the official brand sponsoring the competition. This action was quickly reported to the entity, which registered the infraction.

Although it seems minor at first glance, this issue could generate financial complications for the club. Football, especially in high-profile competitions like the Libertadores, relies heavily on commercial agreements with brands and sponsors. Any attitude that could harm the image of these companies, even if accidental, could result in significant financial punishments for the club.

The infraction committed by Tite, although it was probably an oversight, highlights the need for greater care by Flamengo in in relation to compliance with the protocols established by Conmebol. The club, which has until the 27th of this month to present its defense, will need to argue that the situation was accidental and that measures are being taken to avoid new problems.

Focused on the decisive clash against Peñarol (URU), Flamengo rested some players in the match against Grêmio, this Sunday (22). In the 27th round of the Brasileirão, Rubro-Negro ended up defeated 3-2. Responsible for leading the alternative team in Porto Alegre, David Luiz was asked about Flamengo's next commitment, for the Libertadores, against Peñarol.

During the mixed zone at Arena do Grêmio, the experienced defender commented on the expectation of facing “pressure and catimba” from Peñarol in Uruguay. Despite predicting a difficult game, in which Flamengo will need to reverse the 1-0 defeat suffered at Maracanã, David Luiz showed confidence and stated that the team is fully capable of advancing to the semi-finals of the continental competition.

“At Maracanã we had much more possession of the ball. They managed to hit the first counterattack and score the goal, that's what determines it. And then patience, it's always very difficult when you start a World Cup game leading 1-0, and you get that restlessness with the ball. But we know our quality. We have to put together a very effective and intelligent plan. It will be very difficult there, there will be a lot of pressure, catimba, but we have a very qualified team, we are fully capable of passing”, said the defender.

With David Luiz available, Flamengo will face Peñarol next Thursday (26), in the second leg of the Libertadores quarter-finals. The match will be at 7pm (Brasília time), at the Campeón del Siglo Stadium, in Montevideo. To qualify directly, Rubro-Negro must win by two or more goals difference. If there is a tie on the aggregate score, the place will be decided on penalties.