Soccer

While the CBF hinders Flamengo, the Bolivian federation helps Bolívar

Federation "plays together" with the team

Federations usually help their clubs in continental disputes and do their best to benefit their teams in the most important matches. This is what the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) did, for example. Contrary to what CBF does, the FBF thought about the clubs competing in the Copa Libertadores and postponed their games for the national championship .

Bolivia's two representatives in the Copa Libertadores 2024 are Bolívar and The Strongest. Exactly the two clubs that would take the field last Sunday (11). However, the FBF postponed the match so that both teams could focus on the continental competition. Therefore, Bolívar arrives rested for the game at Maracanã and with more preparation time thinking about Rubro-Negro.

The same goes for The Strongest, who visits Peñarol on Wednesday (14) . Flamengo's game against Bolívar takes place on Thursday (15), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), and Mengão has less time to rest and focus on the match.

If Bolívar had the game postponed , Mais Querido had to enter the field in a very important game in the fight for the top spot in the Brasileirão. Tite's team even won 1-0, but suffered a draw in the final stretch of the match and is playing their lives in the Libertadores after three games without winning.

Bolívar has six days of rest and preparation to face Flamengo

With After the match was postponed, Bolívar had six days to prepare for the clash against Flamengo. The team's last game took place last Thursday (8). In other words, exactly one week before Flamengo x Bolívar. The foreigners hosted Jorge Wilstermann and won 2-0.

As Flamengo faced Palmeiras last Sunday (11), the focus time on Bolívar is just three days. Everton Cebolinha and Matías Viña will undergo surgery and be absent from the team until the end of the season, which is also a reflection of this sequence of games.

The moments are different, and Bolívar comes from three consecutive victories, the same number of games that Flamengo doesn't win, considering the return of the Copa do Brasil, also against Palmeiras, and the game with São Paulo for the Brasileirão.

Soccer

Despite the nickname "smooth wire", Flamengo's attack dominates the offensive aspect in series A

Rubro-Negro dominates the offensive presence category, leading both in touches in the final third and in expected goals (xG)

Flamengo creates, on average, 3.6 big goal chances per game, although it still wastes two clear opportunities per match, something that, if adjusted

Flamengo continues to demonstrate why it is considered the most feared team in the 2025 Brasileirão. According to a survey by the "DataFut" profile, the Rubro-Negro dominates the offensive presence category, leading both in touches in the final third and in expected goals (xG). In practice, this efficiency translates into the best attack in the competition, with 11 goals scored so far.

The graph reveals that Flamengo is the team that exchanges the most passes in the attacking sector, but the biggest highlight is its ability to transform this possession into real goal opportunities. Rubro-Negro has an impressive 2.2 goals per game, with numbers that reinforce its high offensive quality.

10 of the 11 goals came from shots inside the box;
1 goal was scored from outside the area;
The team also scored 3 headed goals, showing versatility;
The right foot was the main weapon, with 5 goals scored, against 3 with the left leg.

*data collected from Sofascore

Even with a better attack, Flamengo wastes many chances

Flamengo creates, on average, 3.6 big scoring chances per game, although they still waste two clear opportunities per match, something that, if adjusted, could make the team even more lethal.

With 15.2 shots per game (6.2 of which were on target), Filipe Luís' team demonstrates aggression and consistency. The intense offensive movement is also reflected in the number of fouls suffered (11.6 direct shots per game).

Flamengo not only dominates possession and occupies the opponent's field, but also transforms this offensive presence into concrete numbers. Still, the Rubro-Negro can be even more objective due to the number of chances it creates. If this is corrected, it will be very difficult for the Mais Querido to have results like the 0x0 against Vasco.

This Sunday (27), Mengão will have the opportunity to show its offensive power in front of a completely packed Maracanã, with all tickets sold for the duel against Corinthians, at 4 pm, for the sixth round of the Brasileirão.

Soccer

Raul Plassmann reveals behind the scenes of his arrival at Flamengo in its golden age

Former goalkeeper told MengoCast how the unexpected invitation from the Rio de Janeiro club became the key to his career even after his decision to retire

Raul Plassmann recalls in MengoCast how an unexpected call from President Márcio Braga changed his trajectory (Photo / CRF)

An idol of Flamengo during the historic victories of the early 1980s, Raul Plassmann relived one of the most curious moments of his career in football. In an appearance on "MengoCast", the former goalkeeper revealed that he had already retired from his sports career when he received, without prior warning, the news that he would be the new signing for the Rio de Janeiro club . The announcement was made on national television, while he was having dinner with his parents in Curitiba.

The phone will ring soon. Five minutes later, it rang.” - said Raul about his announcement at Flamengo

PLAYER HAD RETURNED TO HIS PARENTS' HOME AFTER QUITTING FOOTBALL

The story begins in 1978. Raul, then 32 years old, decided to end his career after playing for Coritiba, São Paulo and Cruzeiro. According to him, the decision came at a time when he was feeling discouraged about football. “I stopped. Back in Belo Horizonte, I said: 'I don't want to do it anymore'. I took my car and left for Curitiba. I went to live with my parents”, he recalled. Despite his successful career, Raul said that he never dreamed of being a professional player — his initial goal was just to be able to buy a car.

NEWS CATCHES RAUL BY SURPRISE DURING FAMILY DINNER

At home, away from the field, Raul was surprised by a news story while watching Jornal Nacional. “ Fernando Vanucci came on air and said: ‘Raul is Flamengo’s new goalkeeper’” . According to him, silence took over the room. His mother, surprised, asked questions. His father, in shock, just watched. Raul, however, realized that it was not a joke. “I said: ‘The phone is going to ring soon’. Five minutes later, it rang”.

On the other end of the line, Márcio Braga, then president of Flamengo , was direct: “I bought your pass. You show up tomorrow.” Raul , still reluctant, said that he had already stopped playing. But the director insisted, stating that the goalkeeper was now a player for the club. At first, Raul rejected the offer. In addition to his lack of interest, he thought the salary was low and was uncomfortable with the idea of living with the youth players in São Conrado.