Flamengo has the most expensive squad in America and 43rd in the world, study shows

Flamengo made their debut with a victory in the group stage of the 2025 Libertadores by beating Deportivo Táchira 1-0, away from home, on Thursday night (3). The highlight of the game was Juninho, who came off the bench and scored the winning goal with a touch of his chest, after an assist from Bruno Henrique.

It strengthens and gives confidence to the group..."

“ It’s always good to win away from home , especially in a competition like the Libertadores. I’m very happy with the goal, but even happier with the victory and the three points,” celebrated the striker after the match. “Without a doubt, this strengthens and gives confidence to the group , even though we were already very confident,” he added.

FLAMENGO FACES DIFFICULTIES

The team led by Filipe Luís had a slow start to the game, with difficulties in the midfield and a lack of offensive objectivity. The opponent, despite being technically limited, managed to neutralize the Mais Querido in the first half. Luiz Araújo had the best chance, but wasted it in front of goalkeeper Jesús Camargo. Even without suffering any major risks, Flamengo produced little in the first 45 minutes.

In the second half, the attitude changed. Juninho came on with energy and, in the 12th minute, after a pass from Bruno Henrique, he chested the ball into the back of the net, securing the victory. Deportivo Táchira even tried to react in injury time , but were thwarted by a lack of technique and good saves by Rossi . The goal put Mengão in the lead of the group.

STRIKER HIGHLIGHTS THE SQUAD'S CONFIDENCE

After the celebration, Juninho reinforced the team's focus and preparation. “Right now, I think my team is only thinking about the Brasileirão. And the next Libertadores game is only next week. We're going to try to study our next opponent ,” said the player, showing maturity and commitment.

It's finally here! That's because Flamengo finally made its debut in the Copa Libertadores da América , ending the anxiety of the red-and-black fans. For the party to be complete, they only need a victory over Táchira, away from home, in Venezuela. In this sense, Filipe Luís's team achieved their objective, winning the game 1-0 (goal by Juninho) and with the draw between LDU and Córdoba earlier, the team from Gávea also "won" the leadership of its group.

SUMMARY

The first 45 minutes between Táchira and Flamengo were very weak. The game had very few shots on goal or real chances (3 to 1 for the team from Rio). Flamengo had more possession of the ball (61% to 39%), but Táchira pressed forward and caused some scares, mainly in plays generated by Flamengo's mistakes, such as passing errors.

Flamengo's best chance of the game came in the 26th minute. Luiz Araújo received a deep pass from Michael and shot weakly with his right foot, straight at the goalkeeper. Filipe Luís' team felt the lack of greater creative potential in the first half.

In the second half, the red-black team came back a little better, but the creation (the famous last pass) left something to be desired , while the home team looked for a red-black mistake to try something. However, those who try hard are rewarded and that was the case for Flamengo.

At 12 minutes, Juninho came on and with his first touch scored the goal for Flamengo. Alex Sandro passed the ball to Everton Cebolinha, who crossed from the left, Bruno Henrique deflected it to the far post, and Juninho opened the scoring. In the end, the home team gave the red-and-black defense two scares, but was stopped by the Venezuelan team's lack of accuracy and the score remained the same until the final whistle.

AND NOW?

With this result, Flamengo leads group C of the Libertadores with 3 points, two more than Central Córdoba and LDU who have one and Téchira with zero. Now, the red-and-black team is preparing to turn the key to the Brasileirão. This is because it faces Vitóra, at Barradão, next Sunday, at 6:30 pm.

Flamengo won 1-0 against Táchira in the Libertadores on Thursday night. However, the Group C action began at 7pm (Brasília time) . Central Córdoba and LDU faced each other in Santiago del Estero-ARG and drew 0-0. With that, the red-black team from Rio de Janeiro leads the group with 3 points.

In the first half, Central Córdoba had more control of the match, having more possession and risking more shots. However, the best chance fell to the Ecuadorian team . However, the teams were unable to find the net and went into the break with the score 0-0.

In the second half, the Argentine team came back even better and had great chances to score their first goal in the history of the Libertadores , but LDU 's defense did what it could to avoid it and ended up not changing the score.

Considered the second strongest team in the group, behind Flamengo, the Ecuadorian team played a very poor game and was not defeated by Argentina due to small details. Central Córdoba, which scored its first point in the Libertadores, faces Mengão in the second round, next Wednesday (9), at Maracanã.

As stated above, due to the draw, Flamengo ends the round in the lead, by beating Deportivo Táchira, in Venezuela in the match that started at 9:30 pm.

CENTRAL CÓRDOBA X LDU STATISTICS

1st half

Ball possession: 58% x 42%

Finishes: 8 x 4

Shots on target: 2 x 1

Big odds: 0 x 1

Big chances scored: 0 x 0

Defenses: 1 x 2

Successful passes: 183 x 139

Crosses: 5/11 (45%) x 2/6 (33%)

Corners: 4 x 1

Offsides: 1 x 0

Disarms: 4 x 4

Fouls suffered: 4 x 5

Yellow cards: 2 x 0

Red cards: 0 x 0

2nd half

Ball possession: 61% x 39%

Finishes: 9 x 1

Shots on target: 2 x 1

Big chances: 1 x 0

Big chances scored: 0 x 0

Defenses: 1 x 3

Successful passes: 225 x 143

Crosses: 4/10 (40%) x 2/7 (29%)

Corners: 2 x 3

Offsides: 1 x 0

Disarms: 9 x 1

Fouls suffered: 6 x 5

Yellow cards: 0 x 2

Red cards: 0 x 0

TOTAL STATISTICS OF CENTRAL CÓRDOBA 0X0 LDU

Ball possession: 59% x 41%

Finishes: 17 x 5

Shots on target: 6 x 2

Big chances: 1 x 1

Big chances scored: 0 x 0

Defenses: 2 x 5

Successful passes: 358 x 232

Crosses: 9/21 (43%) x 4/13 (31%)

Corners: 6 x 4

Offsides: 2 x 0

Disarms: 13 x 5

Fouls suffered: 10 x 10

Yellow cards: 2 x 2

Red cards: 0 x 0