ON LOAN FROM FLAMENGO, HUGO SOUZA MAKES A SEQUENCE OF MIRACULOUS DEFENSES AND SAVES CORINTHIANS IN BRASILEIRÃO

Last Thursday (2), Filipe Luís completed one year in charge of Flamengo. The date coincided with the 0-0 draw against Cruzeiro, in the Brasileirão. Since taking command in October last year, the former full-back received valuable advice from Zico , the greatest idol in the history of the red-black team.

TIPS FROM THE ETERNAL 10

Zico to Filipe Luís when he took over Flamengo: "you can't think like a player"

Quintino's Galinho revealed the content of the conversation he had with the then-rookie coach, emphasizing the importance of shifting perspectives from player to manager: "Filipe, now you have to understand this: you can't think like a player. You have to think like a manager ," the idol began.

You'll discover who your friends are when you have to make difficult decisions. Based on your personality, I know you'll always choose the best. You can't have friendships from the past. That's when you'll see who truly wants to help you ," Zico said.

The idol also praised Filipe Luís's work during his first year as coach: "When he took over Flamengo , we talked a lot. He has a very clear vision of how to play and understands the style the fans like. Sometimes it's not always possible to apply it, but his philosophy is geared towards that . I'm very pleased with what he's been doing. It's natural to make mistakes here and get things right; it's part of the game," Zico told Romário TV.

FILIPE LUÍS' NUMBERS AT FLAMENGO

In his one year in charge, Filipe Luís won three titles: the Copa do Brasil, the Supercopa do Brasil, and the Campeonato Carioca. In total, he led the team in 71 matches, recording 46 wins, 18 draws, and only 7 losses . Flamengo currently leads the Campeonato Brasileiro and has qualified for the Copa Libertadores semifinals, solidifying the coach's strong run.

MENGÃO'S NEXT CHALLENGE

Following Zico's advice, Filipe Luís is looking for another victory this Sunday (5), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time) , against Bahia, at Arena Fonte Nova, for the 27th round of the Brasileirão. The match will be broadcast live on Premiere (pay-per-view) for all of Brazil.

This Sunday (5), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), Flamengo has an important challenge in the fight for the leadership of the Brazilian Championship. The Most Beloved faces Bahia , at Arena Fonte Nova, for the 27th round of the competition. Despite the opponent being the third best home team in the tournament, the historical record and tactical reading indicate good paths for Filipe Luís' team to leave Salvador with the three points.

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Coach Filipe Luís should send onto the field a Flamengo team with: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Danilo and Ayrton Lucas; De La Cruz (Allan), Jorginho and Arrascaeta; Plata (Carrascal), Samuel Lino (Everton Cebolinha) and Pedro (Bruno Henrique).

On the other side, Bahia , led by Rogério Ceni, faces a series of absences, 13 in total, and will need to find alternatives to form the team . The likely lineup has: Ronaldo; Gilberto, David Duarte (Fredi), Rezende and Zé Guilherme; Acevedo, Jean Lucas and Everton Ribeiro; Kayky, Iago Borduchi (Michel Araujo, Tiago or Cauly) and Willian José.

WHERE TO WATCH

The match between Bahia and Flamengo will be played this Sunday (05), at 6:30 pm, at Arena Fonte Nova, in Salvador . The match will be broadcast exclusively by Premiere (pay-per-view). The referee will be Rodrigo Lima (PE).

FAVORABLE RETROSPECT FOR MENGÃO

Flamengo can rely on a largely favorable history in this match. Playing at Fonte Nova has been a positive experience for Flamengo : since 2006, in 11 matches hosted by Bahia, Flamengo has won six (55%), drawn two, and lost three.

In recent matches, their dominance is even clearer: five wins, one draw, and only one loss in their last seven games . This record reinforces the Rio de Janeiro team's optimism for another decisive round in their quest for the Brasileirão title.

Left-back Matías Viña has been on a tear at Flamengo in recent weeks. With the experienced Alex Sandro a regular starter, the Uruguayan has lost his place in the squad rotation and seen his playing time decrease. Before that, Viña was already competing directly with Ayrton Lucas for the position , but a recent injury has only made the competition worse.

Behind the scenes, the player's name was mentioned in speculation about possible departures in the next transfer window. However, the situation has changed , and an internal shake-up could ensure his continued presence at the club .

ALEX SANDRO MAY CHANGE POSITION

According to journalist Fabrício Lopes, the trend within Gávea is for Alex Sandro to play primarily as a center-back , once again opening up space for Viña and Ayrton Lucas at left-back. With this change, the Uruguayan should once again be used more by Filipe Luís, especially in games that require greater defensive solidity. Therefore, the Uruguayan is unlikely to be traded and will remain in the red-and-black squad for the remainder of the season.

TOTAL FOCUS ON THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (5), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), to face Bahia, at Arena Fonte Nova, in a duel valid for the 27th round of the Brasileirão . The team led by Filipe Luís seeks to maintain the leadership of the competition and increase the advantage over direct competitors.

SITUATION IN THE TABLE

Flamengo currently sits first in the Brazilian Championship with 55 points, followed by Palmeiras (52 points), Cruzeiro (51) and Botafogo (43). A victory away from home in Salvador would be another important step in the fight for the Série A title.