Soccer
29 Mai 2025 | 18:11 |
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Wednesday night at Maracanã was marked not only by Flamengo 's performance on the field, but also by the vibrant presence of an old acquaintance: João Gomes. The midfielder, currently playing for Wolverhampton in England, made a point of being among the crowd in the North Sector, where the bass drum beat echoes louder and the passion turns into collective combustion.
No box seats, mixed zones or VIP spaces. João chose cement, concrete, the soul of the stands. Alongside the Red-Black Race, he sang, jumped and raised the Sacred Mantle in the air. A rare moment for an athlete playing abroad, and even more so for someone who already has a name in the club's history.
The video released by Flamengo on social media one day after the game captured the essence of the reunion: João wearing a fan cap, sweaty, smiling and completely surrendered to the feeling. At one point, he takes off his shirt and twirls it above his head, as a symbol of the passion that never cooled.
João has a long-standing connection with Flamengo. A product of the youth academy, he became a key player in 2022, the year in which he helped lead the team to victory in the Libertadores. It is no wonder that many call him the “Pitbull of America”. And, by all indications, this connection was not lost with the move to the Premier League.
While Vini Jr, another famous Flamengo fan, watched the match from a reserved box, João preferred to be fully immersed. And the choice did not go unnoticed by the fans. The stands were thrilled not only with the game, but with the unexpected presence of their idol. "Our child. Our love. This is life, my Flamengo. I love you and trust you, always," wrote a fan on Flamengo's post. Another was direct: "He did what Gabigol didn't have the courage to do." Marisa, in good humor, joked: "They say he's still up there in the stands singing 😂."
Defeat at Maracanã forces Mais Querido to win away from home by two goals to continue in the competition and the coach explains about the youth team's defenders
01 Ago 2025 | 23:00 |
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Flamengo was defeated by Atlético-MG 1-0 on Thursday night (1), at Maracanã, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. The result forces the Rio de Janeiro club to seek qualification away from home, at Arena MRV. To advance directly, the team needs to win by at least two goals. If they achieve a simple victory, the spot will be decided on penalties. A draw favors Galo.
During the post-match press conference, coach Filipe Luís commented on the decision to maintain the starting defensive formation against the Minas Gerais opponent. He said the decision was made considering the complexity of the match and the physical strain on the players.
"I think defense is a delicate area. I don't like to change the back line; I try to change it as little as possible. Considering the wear and tear you mentioned, there's also the opponent. They're a team that causes us a lot of problems in the back line," said the Flamengo coach.
Filipe Luís also mentioned the defensive risks Atlético-MG's attack posed, highlighting the offensive prowess of players like Hulk, Rony, and Cuello . The decision to preserve the squad's young defenders was precisely due to this scenario.
Filipe Luís talks about Flamengo's youth defenders: "It wouldn't be fair to the kids"
" I didn't think it would be fair to the boys to play this game. I believe that always playing in defense is a more delicate situation, and the attack with Hulk, Rony, and Cuello would create difficulties for our back line. That's why I chose to keep them. But, if we need them against Ceará, or even in the second leg, I know we have João and Cleiton," added the coach.
Before the reunion with Atlético-MG, Flamengo returns to the field for the Brazilian Championship this Sunday (03). The match will be against Ceará, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza, valid for the 18th round of the competition. The match will be broadcast live on the Premiere channel.
In a tight game at Presidente Vargas Stadium, the teams remain tied at 0-0 and the decision for a place in the semifinals will be made in next week's match.
01 Ago 2025 | 22:00 |
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On Thursday afternoon (31), Flamengo Women faced Fortaleza at Presidente Vargas Stadium, in Fortaleza (CE), for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship. The score ended 0-0 after 90 minutes of balance and intense marking , keeping the dispute for a place in the semifinals of the competition open. The decisive clash is scheduled for next week, in Rio de Janeiro.
The first half was marked by intense midfield battles and few clear-cut scoring opportunities. Despite their technically demanding efforts, Mais Querido struggled against the home team's strong marking.
The red-and-blacks ' best chances came from set pieces: a free kick taken by Carol Martins and a corner kick taken by Isabela Nunes , which ended with a header from Brendha and a good save from the opposing goalkeeper. The scoreless draw remained until halftime.
In the second half, Flamengo continued to try to open the scoring, but again encountered resistance from Fortaleza's defense. The game remained tight, with many physical duels and little attacking activity from either side. The substitutions made by coach Filipe Torres didn't have the desired effect, and the intensity of the match dropped considerably. In the end, in stoppage time, Isabela Nunes crossed to Emilly, who fought back, and Alice shot over the bar—the last real chance before the final whistle.
Before the decisive quarter-final match, Mengão debuts in the U-20 Women's Carioca Championship this Sunday (3), against União Central, at 11 am, in Gávea. The coaching staff takes advantage of the state duel to maintain the athletes' rhythm and adjust the team for the return match against Fortaleza, where only a victory guarantees direct qualification for the semi-final of the Brasileirão in the category.
After a 1-0 loss at Maracanã in the Copa do Brasil, the Mais Querido coach says he will try to reverse the score away from home and highlights planning
01 Ago 2025 | 21:30 |
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Flamengo lost 1-0 to Atlético-MG this Thursday (1st) at Maracanã in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. Despite the negative result, coach Filipe Luís believes the match remains open and that Flamengo is fully capable of seeking qualification away from home. The second leg will be held at Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte.
Filipe Luís reveals his goal at Flamengo: "Brazilian and Libertadores are priorities"
"The Brazilian Championship and the Libertadores are priorities, but I came in to win . Just like in the Ceará game, I'm prepared to win with the players I believe are the best. Of course, in the second leg, we'll try to turn things around. In my opinion, it's wide open. We know it's difficult to play in our opponent's stadium, but just as they won here, we can win there," said Filipe Luís in the post-match press conference.
When asked about the absence of some important names in the match, the commander explained that the decision to rest players was made strategically , taking into account the physical wear and tear and the tactical fit thought out for the Flamengo match.
"It was a plan in which I decided on the players. None of them had been ruled out, but I believe that given their current run of form, it wouldn't be wise to play them today and Sunday as well. And also that they fit in with the game plan I had envisioned for the match. In the other game, Arrascaeta was on the field and didn't benefit from that plan. I opted for other changes, to rest him so he could have some training sessions and be in good shape next week," he added.
To qualify for the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals, Flamengo will have to beat Atlético-MG by two goals in Belo Horizonte. If the Rio de Janeiro team wins by just one goal, the match will go to penalties. A draw favors Atlético-MG, who have the advantage after the result at Maracanã.
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