Soccer

Gonzalo Plata reveals that he saw Flamengo in the Libertadores and is eager to debut at Maracanã

Ecuadorian was the fourth Rubro-Negro reinforcement in this transfer window

Reproduction/Flamengo
Reproduction/Flamengo

01 Set 2024 | 07:56 |

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Flamengo published it on FlaTV the video of Gonzalo Plata's arrival at Ninho do Urubu. The attacker visited Mais Querido's facilities, met new teammates, and had a moment with a former opponent and now commander. Coach Tite, when speaking to the player, asked if the athlete remembered him and Plata said yes because they faced each other in the Copa América and in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup.


To FlaTV, Gonzalo admitted that he didn't follow the Brasileirão, but said he had watched the Libertadores finals that Mais Querido won in recent years, one of them in Guayaquil, his homeland, he couldn't hide his anxiety about playing in a packed Maracanã.


“I'm really looking forward to playing at Maracanã, with the whole stadium full of Flamengo fans. Much earlier I also watched games. I didn't really follow the Brazilian league, but, of course, I saw the Libertadores final where they played against River. I remember they also played in Ecuador against Athletico-PR. Flamengo fills stadiums everywhere, so this fills me with anticipation to arrive at Maracanã and see the entire stadium in red, with people from Flamengo. I think it will be a very special day for me”, said Mengo's new 45 shirt.


The debut could take place exactly in the former Big One in the World, Flamengo hopes to be able to register the striker with the CBF BID this Monday ( 2), which would allow Rubro-Negro to register the player for the second leg of the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil against Bahia, which will be at Maracanã. Gonzalo Plata hopes to be able to repay the affection he has felt from the Nation.

“Long before arriving here in Brazil, people were already sending me a lot of messages, so I am very happy. When I already knew I was coming here, when they sent me my plane ticket, with that I said: "I've arrived"! Now that I'm here, yesterday they announced it to me, all the messages of support I received, I'm very happy about it. Now I just have to wait for my teammates, their welcome, which will be very important for me to adapt better”, declared the Ecuadorian.


Flamengo will be the fifth club of the player's career. Formed by Independiente Del Valle, from Ecuador, the striker had spells at Sporting (POR), Real Valladolid (ESP) and Al Sadd (CAT), however, Plata guaranteed that none of the teams he played for have a structure as good as that of the Rubro-Negro.

“I've been to many teams, but I think this is the best I've ever seen. So I think I'm going to like it a lot, there are a lot of things to recover and do here”, he concluded.



Soccer

Keeping an eye on their rivals: Estudiantes will have new additions to their lineup to face Flamengo

The Argentine team begins training at Fluminense's training center and should play more defensively at Maracanã against Mengão this Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm

Estudiantes trains at Fluminense before facing Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores and tests defensive scheme - photo: reproduction
Estudiantes trains at Fluminense before facing Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores and tests defensive scheme - photo: reproduction

17 Set 2025 | 15:15 |

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Estudiantes is already in Rio de Janeiro for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals against Flamengo , scheduled for Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã. The Argentine team trained at Fluminense's facilities , preparing for the decisive duel.


Coach Eduardo Domínguez tested a more conservative formation, including an extra defensive midfielder in midfield, as a strategy to contain Flamengo's attacks. According to Radio Província 1270 in La Plata, the change could result in only one striker on the field , demonstrating a more solid defensive posture.


LINEUP AND POSSIBLE CHANGES


Estudiantes ' likely lineup for the clash includes: Muslera; Gómez, Nuñez, Rodríguez, Arzamendia; Ascacibar, Piovi, Amondarain, Medina, Tiago Palacios; Carrillo.

It's not yet clear whether Piovi will play as an extra midfielder or be replaced by Castro . Amondarain, despite being an attacking midfielder, could drop back and act as a third midfielder, depending on Domínguez's strategy in recent training sessions.


FLAMENGO WILL HAVE A CHALLENGE

With the prospect of a more closed Argentine team, Flamengo, under the command of Filipe Luís, will have to work hard to break down Estudiantes' defense and seek a positive result in the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals.


Soccer

Flamengo will have changes in the lineup to face Estudiantes

Rubro-negro evaluates changes in the starting lineup for the clash with the Argentine team this Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm, for the Libertadores

Flamengo holds final training session before facing Estudiantes in the CONMEBOL Libertadores with possible changes to the lineup - photo: reproduction
Flamengo holds final training session before facing Estudiantes in the CONMEBOL Libertadores with possible changes to the lineup - photo: reproduction

17 Set 2025 | 14:49 |

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Flamengo could take to the field with a different formation to face Estudiantes this Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), for the CONMEBOL Libertadores. The duel, decisive for the club's ambitions in the continental competition , will be broadcast live on Disney+.


Up front, Bruno Henrique is recovered and available to play, expanding coach Filipe Luís's offensive options. Plata and Luiz Araújo are also options at wing. Léo Ortiz returns to the defensive system after missing the match against Juventude.


A possible Flamengo lineup for Thursday has: Rossi; Emerson Royal (or Varela), Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas (or Viña); Allan (or De La Cruz), Saúl and Arrascaeta; Plata, Pedro (or Bruno Henrique) and Samuel Lino.


JORGINHO IS A MISSING PARTY IN THE TEAM

According to information gathered, the club's coaching staff is likely to opt for midfielder Jorginho, who is recovering from a muscle edema. Although he is fit to play, the club does not want to risk losing him for an extended period.


MIDFIELD OPTIONS

Without Jorginho, coach Filipe Luís is evaluating the best alternatives for the position. De La Cruz and Saúl are the main candidates to form a partnership with Saúl in midfield . The coach will lead the final training session before the match on Wednesday (17) to determine his replacement.

Another confirmed absence is left-back Alex Sandro, who is nursing a calf injury and will be unfit to play. Ayrton Lucas and Matías Viña are competing for the starting spot on the left wing.


Soccer

Flamengo vs Estudiantes in the Libertadores will have a new refereeing

Conmebol announces changes to the VAR process and will now be valid for the duel between Mengão and the La Plata club in the quarterfinals

Conmebol announces changes to the VAR process and the new feature will already be valid for Flamengo vs Estudiantes - Photo: Reproduction
Conmebol announces changes to the VAR process and the new feature will already be valid for Flamengo vs Estudiantes - Photo: Reproduction

17 Set 2025 | 14:10 |

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Conmebol announced this Tuesday (16) an important new development for the quarterfinal stage of the Libertadores . From this stage onwards, the main referee will immediately communicate his decision to the entire public present at the stadium , ensuring greater transparency in the arbitration process.


This measure has already been used in the organization's competitions. In the 2024 Recopa Sudamericana, for example, the rule was applied experimentally . Now, it officially returns for the decisive matches of the Copa Libertadores.


FLAMENGO X ESTUDIANTES – FIRST GAME


The first duel between Flamengo and Estudiantes takes place this Thursday (18), at Maracanã, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time). The stadium will have a full house: All tickets were sold in advance , guaranteeing an estimated audience of around 69 thousand people.

RETURN GAME IN ARGENTINA


The return leg is scheduled for September 25th in La Plata, Argentina, also at 9:30 pm (Brasília time). It will be broadcast on ESPN (pay TV) and Disney+ (streaming) . Fans can stay up to date with all the details of the match at Gazeta do Urubu.

ARBITRATION
  • Referee: Andrés Rojas (COL)
  • Assistants: Alexander Guzman and John León (COL)
  • 4th referee: John Ospina (COL)
  • VAR: Nicolas Gallo (COL)
  • VAR Assistant: David Rodriguez (COL)


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