LET IT GO! FLAMENGO BOARD OF DIRECTORS PUSHES THE BAR AND CANCELS GAME ON 'FLAMENGUIST DAY'

This Sunday night (22), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), Flamengo will face Grêmio, in Porto Alegre, in the 27th round of the Brasileirão. A victory is crucial for Rubro-Negro, who currently has 45 points, to get closer to Fortaleza, third placed, with 49 points. Meet five Grêmio players, led by Renato Gaúcho, who deserve special attention in the clash.

Cristaldo: the midfielder, the team's starter, is Grêmio's top scorer in the Brasileirão with four goals.

< Braithwaite: ex-Barcelona, ​​the Danish center forward arrived at Grêmio in the last transfer window and has already scored three goals in Serie A. Pay attention to his performance, Flamengo.

Soteldo: the Venezuelan point guard is the leader of Grêmio's assists in the championship, with two passes for a goal, the same mark as Cristaldo.

Pavón: the Argentine striker also has two assists in the competition, equaling Cristaldo and Soteldo in terms of decisive passes.< /p>

Marchesín: goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín is going through a good phase and is the team's absolute starter. He has the third best average of Grêmio players in the Brasileirão, with 7.22 on the SofaScore app.

Probable lineups:

Grêmio: Marchesín; João Pedro, Gustavo Martins, Kannemann and Reinaldo; Villasanti, Dodi, Monsalve, Cristaldo and Soteldo; Braithwaite.

Flamengo: Matheus Cunha; Wesley, David Luiz, Cleiton and Ayrton Lucas; Everton Araújo, Allan, Alcaraz and Lorran; Gabigol and Carlinhos.

Last clash: Flamengo won with a highlight from Luiz Araújo

Grêmio will seek a rematch against Flamengo at their Arena this weekend. In the first round, at Maracanã, Rubro-Negro won 2-1, with two goals from Luiz Araújo. In stoppage time, Edenílson reduced the score for the Gauchos. Due to the clash against Peñarol in the Libertadores on Thursday, Tite will spare part of the red and black squad this Sunday.

The Flamengo was defeated by Peñarol last Thursday (19), 1-0. However, the Uruguayans' goal generated controversy, as Erick Pulgar kicked the ball into his own hand when trying to clear it. Thus, Conmebol released the audio of the VAR analysis.

Five minutes into the second half, at a Peñarol intersection in the Mais Querido, a player from the Uruguayan team deflects the ball to the middle of the small area and Pulgar, when trying to move away with his back, kicks it into his own arm. The move generated a lot of complaints from the opponent's players, but the referee did not check it with the VAR.

So, this past Friday (20), Conmebol released the analysis of the move, and the official audio from the VAR booth, in communication with the field referee, Jésus Valenzuela, at the time of the play.

VAR AUDIO

“In the 50th minute, a defender in red and black ends up unintentionally throwing the ball into his arm, which was there as a result of his movement, justifiable by the action he performs. This does not constitute a hand infraction, as the player throws the ball against his own arm in an indeliberate manner”, explained the analysis of the play.

“The referee observed the action, and see that the game continues . The VAR carried out its protocol review, analyzing it with the appropriate angles, speeds and correct considerations regarding the action. And it confirms the original decision on the field”, he added.

Already in the VAR booth, the decision was taken quickly and the analysis of the move was carried out quickly.

“Check completes, takes the hand, but it comes from his own foot, from the inside out”, pointed out VAR number one, Juan Soto.

Matheus Gonçalves, Flamengo's young promise, clearly demonstrated his preference to continue at the Rio club, despite proposals received from other teams both in Brazil and abroad. In a statement to UOL, the athlete highlighted his emotional bond with Rubro-Negro, a club he has defended since he was 12 years old. For him, the Flamengo is the ideal place to continue developing his career and where he believes he can have more opportunities for growth.

This choice reflects the strong bond that Gonçalves has with the team and his vision that he can gain more space in the main team. In a market where young talents often seek international transfers in search of greater visibility and financial return, the midfielder chooses to remain at the club he considers his favorite team. This emotional connection, combined with confidence in his potential, reinforces the player's desire to consolidate his position in the red and black squad.

FLAMENGO HAS A DECISION POINT

< The interest of national and foreign clubs in the player is not a surprise. With outstanding passages in the youth categories, Matheus Gonçalves attracted the attention of the public and experts due to his talent and performance on the field. However, the decision to remain at Flamengocan be seen as a strategic step, both for his career and for the club itself, which seeks to maintain its young values ​​in the squad.

The attitude of Matheus Gonçalves demonstrates maturity and commitment. In an era where pressure for quick results and million-dollar negotiations can influence decisions, the midfielder chooses to continue his development at the club where he feels most comfortable. This can be beneficial not only for your technical and tactical evolution, but also to strengthen your bond with the fans and the club, which values ​​its players' identification with Flamengo.