Flamengo receives good news about being called up to the Uruguayan National Team

Flamengo reported that tickets for the duel against Cruzeiro , this Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, are sold out. The clash is valid for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship and should bring more than 70 thousand fans to the stadium.

The North, West, East (upper and lower), and part of the South sectors are already fully booked . Tickets ranged from R$100 to R$600, with half-price options available for all categories. The high sales volume confirms the expectation of a full house for a decisive match.

FLAMENGO LEADS THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Rubro-Negro heads into the match leading the standings with 54 points , four ahead of Cruzeiro, currently in second place with 50. A win for the Rio de Janeiro team will extend the gap to seven points. If Leonardo Jardim 's team wins, the gap will be reduced to just one point.

REUNION WITH GABIGOL

After making his mark at Flamengo, it's time for a reunion. For the first time since leaving the club, Gabigol will face the "Mais Querido" at Maracanã . Before the match, the striker took social media by storm with a post that intrigued both the nation and Cruzeiro fans.

The player posted a photo of a cleat with a divided heart : half red, half blue. The image sparked different interpretations. Some believed it represented the striker's connection with Flamengo and Cruzeiro. Others, however, saw a personal message, suggesting that Gabriel and Rafaella Santos, Neymar's sister, were expecting a child.

The long-awaited clash between Flamengo and Cruzeiro , valid for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship, promises strong emotions this Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã. The match can directly change the fight for the leadership of the competition , with both clubs experiencing a good moment in the season.

According to predictions from psychic Luiz Filho of the Renascer das Cartas channel, Flamengo will dominate most of the match, but will leave spaces open for Cruzeiro to exploit . Filipe Luís's team should show a strong comeback, but it will also face challenges due to the balance of the match.

According to the analysis, Leonardo Jardim 's team will adopt a more cautious approach than usual, which could create opportunities to surprise their opponents. However, the prediction suggests that Cruzeiro will miss good scoring chances , which could jeopardize the result at Maracanã.

EXPECTATION IS FOR A BALANCED GAME

The teams' evenly matched performance is highlighted by the cards, and a draw also appears to be a possibility. However, due to home advantage and their strong form in the championship, Flamengo appears to be a slight favorite to emerge victorious.

FLAMENGO AND CRUZEIRO DECIDE THE LEADERSHIP

Flamengo and Cruzeiro are emerging as the stars of the 2025 season, delighting fans with their attacking style. In the first round, the Minas Gerais team won 2-1 at Mineirão Stadium , with goals from Kaio Jorge and Arrascaeta. Now, at Maracanã Stadium, Flamengo can extend their lead to seven points with a victory. Cruzeiro, on the other hand, with a victory, will close the gap in the standings and reduce the gap to just one point.

Flamengo and Cruzeiro will face each other this Thursday (2), at Maracanã, in a direct clash between the leaders and runners-up of the Brasileirão . And, for the first time in a while, Filipe Luís will have practically the entire squad available for the duel that is worth the top of the table.

DEFAULTS AND RETURNS

The only confirmed absence is Erick Pulgar. The midfielder is recovering from a broken foot and has already begun the physical reconditioning process , but is only expected to return after the FIFA International Day. Meanwhile, Ayrton Lucas returns after serving a suspension against Corinthians.

Matías Viña and Léo Pereira, who left the last match due to illness and a knock, respectively, have been released . Another new addition is Michael, who has recovered from ankle pain and is available again. The striker, however, has not played since the Club World Cup.

FLAMENGO'S PROBABLE LINEUP

With almost the entire squad at his disposal, the tendency is for Filipe Luís to send onto the field a Flamengo with: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira (Danilo) and Alex Sandro (Ayrton Lucas); Jorginho, Saúl Ñíguez and Arrascaeta; Gonzalo Plata, Samuel Lino and Pedro.

Among the bench options, Filipe Luís has Jorge Carrascal, a standout against Corinthians , as well as Bruno Henrique, Luiz Araújo, and Everton Cebolinha for the attack. De La Cruz is also expected to start as a substitute.

IMPORTANCE OF THE GAME

With 54 points, Flamengo leads the Brasileirão . Cruzeiro is right behind with 50, but has already played one more game. With a win at Maracanã, the Red-Blacks could open up a seven-point lead at the top, even with the game postponed. Kick-off is at 8:30 PM (Brasília time).