Flamengo has problems with medalists and stars before the match against São Paulo

A regular starter in recent years, Léo Pereira is now one of the leaders of Flamengo's squad. After Gerson's departure, the defender gained even more prestige behind the scenes and became part of the team's captaincy . However, the number 4 carries an unsettling coincidence: in four of the six defeats suffered under Filipe Luís, individual errors by the defender played a decisive role .

The most recent episode took place last Thursday (31), when Flamengo was defeated 1-0 by Atlético-MG, at Maracanã, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. In the 20th minute of the second half, Léo Pereira received the ball from Rossi and, under pressure, tried a short pass to Léo Ortiz , but Cuello intercepted and scored the winning goal for Atlético.

OTHER MISTAKES THAT RESULTED IN DEFEATS

Before that, Léo Pereira had already starred in decisive plays in other matches with bitter endings for Rubro-Negro:

• 10/17/2024 – Flamengo 0x2 Fluminense (Brasileirão): In the first half of the classic, with the score still zero, the defender committed a penalty on Marquinhos, confirmed with the help of VAR. Ganso took the shot, Rossi saved, but Arias and Lima secured the victory for Tricolor in the final stage.
• April 9, 2025 – Central Córdoba 2-1 Flamengo (Libertadores): Flamengo pressed forward, but in the 19th minute of the first half, Léo Pereira handled the ball in the box. The penalty, again awarded with the help of VAR, was converted by Heredia and paved the way for defeat in Argentina.
• 04/05/2025 – Cruzeiro 2x1 Flamengo (Brasileirão): The Rubro-Negro were tied until stoppage time, when Léo Pereira tried to clear the ball from the area and ended up hitting Eduardo, who had just entered. The referee signaled a penalty, converted by Gabigol on the rebound after Rossi saved it.

GAMES WITH DEFENSES WITHOUT DEFENDER MISTAKES

The only defeats under Filipe Luís's command in which Léo Pereira did not have direct participation in crucial errors were:

• 06/29/2025 – Flamengo 2x4 Bayern Munich (Club World Cup)
• 16/07/2025 – Flamengo 0x1 Santos (Brazilian Championship)
• In the latter, Neymar scored the winning goal for Santos.

NEXT APPOINTMENT

Despite a series of decisive errors, Léo Pereira remains an important player in the squad . He will be available for the match against Ceará, this Sunday (03), for the 18th round of the Brasileirão. The match takes place at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Arena Castelão, with live broadcast on Premiere.

On Thursday night (01), Flamengo was defeated 1-0 by Atlético-MG , at Maracanã, in a match valid for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. The result puts Flamengo in a challenging situation for the return match. After the match, coach Filipe Luís analyzed the team's offensive performance and pointed to the opponent's defensive quality as one of the main factors in the defeat.

During a press conference, Filipe Luís acknowledged that Flamengo created more chances than in the last game, but struggled against the opposition's strong marking. " We had a lot of scoring chances today, in my opinion . Much more than in the last game. We had shots that hit the post, Lino's chance, and a goal that was offside," he stated.

MERITS OF ATLÉTICO-MG?

According to the coach, Atlético-MG's defensive system is well-structured and hinders offensive fluidity. "You can look at the statistics to see how often Cuca's teams are thrashed. It's because they're a team that defends well, and their game model relies heavily on this defensive phase," he added.

Filipe Luís believes in change at Flamengo: "They have the solutions"

Despite the loss, Flamengo remains in contention and is confident in the strength of its squad to turn things around. Coach Filipe Luís expressed confidence, stating that performance can improve. " There will be other games that won't be like this , and others that will. They have solutions, and there will be days when they're less stressed, like today," he concluded.

NEXT APPOINTMENT

Before the decisive duel for the Copa do Brasil, Flamengo has a scheduled commitment for the Brazilian Championship. On Sunday (03), the team faces Ceará, at 6:30 pm, at Arena Castelão , for the 18th round of the national competition. The match will be broadcast live on the Premiere channel and may represent an opportunity for tactical adjustments aiming at the confrontation with Galo.

Acquitted on July 31, 2025 , Lucas Paquetá is now experiencing relief after a long, emotionally exhausting—and financially costly—trial: approximately R$5.2 million. Faith, family support, and trust in a renowned British law firm were the pillars that sustained the midfielder during the nearly two years of tension caused by the accusation of involvement in sports betting. This information is from journalist Cahê Mota.

The most symbolic moment of this journey occurred on May 4th, during a Premier League match against Tottenham. Upon receiving a yellow card, Paquetá burst into tears on the field. By then, the trial had already concluded, but the sentencing date had not yet been set —which fueled the player's anxiety and emotional tension.

CAREER AT RISK AND PRACTICALLY PARALYZED

Since the allegations surfaced in August 2023, the Flamengo youth player saw negotiations with Manchester City collapse, was left out of the national team under Fernando Diniz, returned under Dorival Júnior, and ended up missing from Carlo Ancelotti's first squad . All this while the process continued amid uncertain deadlines, changes in the English FA's protocol, and a lengthy evaluation by an independent commission.

During this period, Paquetá decided not to seek professional psychological support . Instead, he immersed himself in spirituality as a way to keep his mind steady. Bible verses shared with his wife on social media became routine—even after his acquittal—as a response to criticism, memes, and insults linking him to the scandal.

BRITISH DEFENSE, HIGH COSTS AND FAVORABLE VERDICT

The defense was led entirely by the British law firm Level, which specializes in complex sports cases. The investment of approximately 700,000 pounds (R$5.2 million) proved to be a good one . In May, the lawyers were already indicating a positive scenario, given the prosecution's lack of conclusive evidence. Even so, the risk was extreme: either a complete acquittal or a permanent ban from football.

West Ham, in solidarity, covered part of the legal costs. Now, with the acquittal complete, the lawyers must seek restitution of part of the amount from the English Football Association . However, legal action against the governing body is unlikely, as foreign Premier League players sign a waiver that prevents them from suing the association for libel, defamation, or moral damages.