Flamengo releases list of players for clash against Botafogo-PB; starters are preserved

On the eve of the duel against Flamengo in the round of 16 of the Libertadores , Internacional was the target of protests from its own fans this Friday (08). The dissatisfaction is a consequence of the elimination to Fluminense in the Copa do Brasil, confirmed last Wednesday (06), and the performance below expectations in the last matches.

Critical banners were hung around Beira-Rio Stadium, bearing messages such as: "Wake up, Roger," "How hungry are you?", "Libertadores is a must," and "Too much money, not enough football ." The team, led by Roger Machado, has gone four games without a win—two losses and two draws.

SITUATION IN THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

In the Brazilian Championship, Internacional occupies 13th place with 21 points, just six more than the first club inside the relegation zone. The next opportunity to react will be this Saturday (09), against Bragantino, in the 19th round.

CLIMATE AT FLAMENGO

Despite also being eliminated from the Copa do Brasil, Flamengo hasn't faced any recent protests. Under Filipe Luís, the team remains top of the Brasileirão , has qualified for the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores, and didn't prioritize the knockout tournament this season.

GAME DATES

The first clash between Flamengo and Internacional in the round of 16 of the Libertadores will be on Wednesday (13), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã. The duel will be broadcast by Rede Globo. The return match is scheduled for the 20th, at Beira-Rio.

Rumors that Flamengo intends to return the Gasômetro land to Caixa Econômica Federal and request reimbursement are unfounded . This information comes from journalist Paulo Vinícius Coelho, known as PVC, on his blog at UOL.

According to PVC, this speculation is more linked to political disputes than reality, especially after the club paid upfront for the acquisition of the stadium , located in central Rio de Janeiro. The journalist also emphasized that Flamengo is still planning to build its own stadium , but is in no rush to begin construction.

Cláudio Duarte, governor of Rio, on the stadium: "It's a matter between Flamengo and Rio City Hall"

In July 2024, the club won the Gasômetro auction, purchasing the land for R$138.1 million—the minimum required amount. Since then, the biggest challenge has been enabling the construction of its long-awaited stadium. The club is still awaiting the release of the Financial Feasibility Study commissioned by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation.

OBSTACLES AND NEGOTIATIONS

One of the main obstacles is the removal of the gas pipelines present at the site. Last week, Governor Cláudio Castro reaffirmed the Rio de Janeiro City Hall's commitment to removing the debris and, subsequently, the gas pipelines: "This is a matter between Flamengo and the Rio de Janeiro City Hall. We saw that the City Hall had committed to removing the gas pipelines ," Castro stated.

DEBATE IN THE DELIBERATIVE COUNCIL

Another point on the agenda is raising funds to begin construction. According to O Globo, the club's Deliberative Council is expected to meet to discuss financing options and analyze the stadium's impact on Flamengo's finances. The study is ongoing, and the board is seeking a model that will allow the project to get off the ground without compromising Flamengo's financial health.

Jorge Sampaoli's return to Santos, which seemed certain, is likely to be ruled out. The São Paulo club failed to meet the Argentine coach's demands, and he chose to decline the offer . Thus , the former Flamengo coach remains without a club after a brief and frustrating stint at Stade Rennais (FRA).

According to journalist Ricardo Martins, Sampaoli and Santos had verbally agreed on the terms, and the coach even traveled to Brazil. However, the Santos board was unable to secure the reinforcements requested by the Argentine, which put a damper on negotiations . Despite this, executives are still trying to reverse the situation.

Santos is currently managed by Cléber Xavier, who has managed the team in 14 games, with six losses and three draws. The team, which includes Neymar, is currently facing a difficult time : they were eliminated by CRB in the third round of the Copa do Brasil and currently sit in 15th place in the Brazilian Championship.

SAMPAOLI AT SANTOS

Jorge Sampaoli's first job in Brazilian football was at Santos in 2019. He managed the team in 63 matches, winning 35, drawing 13, and losing 15. His performance in the Brasileirão that year secured the club's place in the Copa Libertadores.

PASSAGE THROUGH FLAMENGO

At Flamengo , the coach failed to replicate the same impact . In 2023, despite 20 wins in 39 matches, he finished runner-up in the Copa do Brasil, losing the final to São Paulo. He was replaced by Tite in October of the same year.

FLAMENGO PREPARES FOR THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Under the command of former full-back Filipe Luís, Flamengo is preparing to face Mirassol this Saturday (09), at Maracanã, for the 19th round of the Brazilian Championship. This will be the first game in history between the two teams , as Mengão has never been relegated to lower divisions and Leão is debuting in Série A of the Brasileirão, in addition to never having faced each other in the Copa do Brasil.