FLAMENGO

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.

Flamengo's departure to Brasília was a surprise at Galeão International Airport, in Rio de Janeiro. The former president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, 'shaked' one of the venue's entrances and arranged for the red-black delegation to go to the federal capital for the Brasileirão game against Criciúma.

Dilma's arrival to Rio de Janeiro was accompanied by reinforced security. A series of police and private security cars filled the hall of the airport's Noble Hall. The disembarkation of the former president, who presided over Brazil between 2011 and 2016, took place moments before the arrival of the red-black delegation.

After the disembarkation of Dilma Rousseff, the Flamengo bus arrived at the location to start the boarding. The players and the rest of the Flamengo staff carried out the travel procedure smoothly, with the exception of Bruno Spindel. Flamengo's executive director had to get out of his private car in the parking lot next to the Salão Nobre, unlike on other days, when he stops at the door of the venue. The change occurred due to the large number of security cars at the entrance.

Flamengo and Criciúma face each other this Saturday (20), starting at 4pm (Brasília time), at the Mané Garrincha Stadium, in Brasília, for the 18th round of the Brasileirão. The match is crucial for Flamengo's aspirations in the competition, which is currently seeking to regain the top positions in the table.

The presence of Dilma Rousseff and the reinforced security scheme were an unexpected element in the embarkation of the Flamengo delegation, but did not affect the team's preparations for the important clash against Criciúma.