UNFAIR? FLAMENGO HAS ONLY 1 PLAYER AS REPRESENTATIVE IN THE SELECTION OF THE ROUND AT LIBERTADORES

In preparation for the match against Flamengo this weekend , Juventude received some good news. Midfielder Lucas Fernandes, sidelined since the end of July due to injury, has returned to training and is once again available to coach Thiago Carpini. He could be included in the squad for the match against "Mais Querido" in the Brazilian Championship.

Signed in early July, Lucas Fernandes played only once for Juventude : on the 27th of that month, in a 3-0 loss to Bahia in the Brasileirão. After that match, the midfielder felt muscle discomfort and was rested for the following game, against Santos. Tests revealed a grade 1 thigh injury, ruling him out of the matches against Corinthians, Vitória, Vasco, Botafogo, and Ceará.

Throughout the season, Thiago Carpini alternated his midfield formation, using more experienced players like Nenê to reinforce the midfield in matches against Vasco and Botafogo. Lucas Fernandes' return opens up the possibility of a new tactical variation. Even if he doesn't start, the former São Paulo player could be an important player in adding dynamism to the team during the match.

FLAMENGO LEADERSHIP

While Mengão leads Série A with 47 points from 21 matches (14 wins, five draws and two losses), Cruzeiro (44 points) and Palmeiras (43) follow. Juventude is in 18th place with 21 points and is looking for a comeback to leave the relegation zone. Flamengo trains on Friday (11) and Saturday (12), at 9:30 am, at Ninho do Urubu, and leaves for Caxias do Sul on Saturday afternoon.

GROUP BOARDING

The squad has activities scheduled for Friday (11) and Saturday (12), at 9:30 am , at Ninho do Urubu. Right after Saturday's training, the delegation will board at 2:30 pm (Brasília time) for Caxias do Sul, where they will face Juventude at the Alfredo Jaconi stadium.

Flamengo will have important reinforcements for the clash with Juventude , this Sunday (14), for the Brazilian Championship. Samuel Lino, Matías Viña, Gonzalo Plata and Jorge Carrascal , who played for their national teams last Tuesday (9), will return to the red-black squad at Ninho do Urubu on Thursday (11).

Uruguayans Arrascaeta and Varela, released by the national team before the duel against Chile , arrived at the training center this Wednesday (10) and joined the group led by Filipe Luís . With that, Mais Querido will have almost full strength for the duel away from home.

The squad has activities scheduled for Friday (11) and Saturday (12), at 9:30 am, at Ninho do Urubu . Right after Saturday's training, the delegation will board at 2:30 pm (Brasília time) for Caxias do Sul, where they will face Juventude at the Alfredo Jaconi stadium.

FLAMENGO LEADS THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

With 14 wins, five draws, and only two losses, Flamengo leads the Brasileirão with 47 points . Cruzeiro, with 44, and Palmeiras, with 43, are close behind. The Rio de Janeiro team is looking to maintain its advantage to move even closer to the title.

PROBABLE LINEUP

Flamengo should go to the field with: Rossi, Royal, Léo Pereira, Danilo, Ayrton Lucas (Alex Sandro), Saúl, Jorginho, Arrascaeta, Plata, Samuel Lino (Luiz Araújo) and Pedro.

With the end of the national team's commitments in the FIFA Date of September, Flamengo begins to welcome its players back. Among them, Arrascaeta and Varela, who were released by the Uruguayan national team before the duel against Chile . The duo returns this Wednesday (10) and participates in the activity scheduled for 9:30 am (Brasília time), at Ninho do Urubu.

On Tuesday (09), the red-black squad was given a day off, but now resumes work aiming at the match against Juventude , for the Brasileirão, at Alfredo Jaconi, where Mais Querido has not won since October 1997, when it defeated Jaconero 1-0.

PERFORMANCE BY CELESTE

Arrascaeta and Varela only took to the field in Uruguay's first game on this FIFA date. Last Thursday (04), both started in the 3-0 victory over Peru. Flamengo 's number 10 left his mark by scoring one of the goals, while the full-back provided the assist for the first goal of the team led by Marcelo Bielsa.

Varela , who played the full 90 minutes, finished the match with pain caused by pubalgia (discomfort in the pelvis, groin and lower abdomen). Therefore, he will be re-evaluated by the red-black Medical Department this Wednesday (10).

AND THE OTHERS CALLED?

In addition to the Uruguayan duo, Flamengo had four other athletes serving their national teams:

• Gonzalo Plata (Ecuador)
• Jorge Carrascal (Colombia)
• Matías Viña (Uruguay)
• Samuel Lino (Brazil)

As they were still available until Tuesday (09), the expectation is that they will only return to the club on Thursday (11).

FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME

The Brasileirão leader returns to the field on Sunday (14), against Juventude, at 4 pm (Brasília time), at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, in Caxias do Sul. With 47 points, Flamengo maintains its advantage at the top of the table . Cruzeiro appears in second, with 44, while Palmeiras, who drew with Corinthians in the last round, dropped to third place, with 43.