FLAMENGO HAS GOOD RETROSPECT IN DEBUT BY LIBERTADORES

Defender Léo Pereira, from Flamengo, became the target of numerous criticisms on social media after his performance in the classic against Vasco. The player was directly responsible for the opponent's equalizing goal, which generated a flood of negative comments from fans, especially on digital platforms.

The move that resulted in Vasco's goal happened at a crucial moment in the match , which intensified the red-black revolt. Many Flamengo fans took to the internet to express their frustration with the defender's failure, pointing to the defensive failure as determining the final result. In the game, which is already naturally surrounded by tension as it is a classic between two of Rio's biggest football rivals, the responsibility of maintaining a solid defense is even greater.

However, Léo Pereira made a mistake that ended up being fatal for the Flamengo. The defender was unable to clear the ball in an aerial play, allowing Vasco to reach a draw. The failure occurred 30 minutes into the second half, at a time when Flamengo seemed to control the match, despite pressure from the opponent. However, the defender's positioning error allowed Vasco's attacker to take advantage of the opportunity, scoring a goal that changed the course of the game.

As soon as the game ended, social networks became a space for rant to Flamengo fans. Various profiles, from sports influencers to ordinary fans, spared no criticism of Léo Pereira's performance. Comments such as "unacceptable" and "another decisive failure" dominated mentions of the player.

On Bluesky, the hashtag with the player's name became one of the most talked about topics, and in fan groups on WhatsApp and Facebook, the conversation revolved around the need for reinforcements in Flamengo's defense. Many stated that the team, with the ambitions it has in competitions such as the Brazilian Championship and Libertadores, cannot afford to make such simple defensive mistakes.

Mengão will have to deal with the absence of Nicolás De La Cruz for another important game. The Uruguayan player did not participate in the classic against Vasco, last Sunday (15), and remains a doubt for this Thursday's match (19) against Peñarol, valid for the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana. The midfielder's presence is not yet guaranteed, as coach Tite explained during a press conference.

During the press conference, Tite revealed that, after a recent training session, he asked Nicolás De La Cruz about the possibility of playing for at least 20 minutes in the match against Vasco, but the player, smiling, indicated that was not in condition. “The physical department was categorical in stating that he was not fit, even if he felt good", commented the coach. Tite also reinforced that he hopes to be able to count on the athlete on Thursday, but there is still no guarantee that this will be possible.

Nicolás De La Cruz has been sidelined since suffering a muscle injury to his right thigh in the game against Bahia, valid for the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil. Since then, the midfielder was absent from the team in the matches against Corinthians, in the second game of the same competition, and in the Rio derby. and expectations for his return increase as the calendar narrows.

In addition to De La Cruz, CRF has already confirmed the absence of four other players for the clash against Peñarol, which they face. problems in their right thigh, and Pedro, Matías Viña and Everton Cebolinha, who suffered more serious injuries, will only return to the pitch in 2025.

With these absences, coach Tite will have to adjust the team to maintain performance and continue in search of victories in the competitions that the club still competes in.

De la Cruz will continue to miss Flamengo this Thursday in the match against Bahia, qualifying for a place in the semi-finals of the Copa do Brasil. The Uruguayan midfielder has not yet managed to recover from the injury to his right thigh, continues without training on the field and is already out of Tite's deck for the game in two days, at 9:45 pm (Brasília time) at Maracanã.

On the other hand, the coach has confirmed the return of Arrascaeta, Gabigol and Léo Pereira. Recovered from injuries, the three trained normally this Tuesday at Ninho do Urubu and will be options for the coach to define the lineup in the last activity for the match, this Wednesday afternoon at CT.

This Wednesday, Varela, Pulgar, Gerson and Fabrício Bruno return from Data Fifa after defending their teams this Tuesday, and depending on their physical conditions they could also be available to Tite against Bahia. As a result, the coach would not have had De la Cruz in the lineup in the first game, when they won 1-0 at Fonte Nova. Arrascaeta appears as the favorite for the vacancy.

In addition to De la Cruz, Cebolinha (left ankle), Viña (right knee), Pedro (left knee) and Michael (right thigh) are also in the medical department. In addition to these, Carlinhos (already played in the Copa do Brasil for Nova Iguaçu) and reinforcements Alex Sandro, Alcaraz and Gonzalo Plata (are not registered at this stage of the tournament) will also not be able to play on Thursday.