FLAMENGO PLAYER WILL RECEIVE TRIBUTE AT MARACANÃ BEFORE THE GAME AGAINST MADUREIRA

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 wants to have Fabrício Bruno and Gerson for the decisive game against Bahia, in the Copa do Brasil. Therefore, Rubro-Negro opted to charter a plane to speed up the players' arrival in Rio de Janeiro. The defender and the 'Joker' are available to the Brazilian team for the duel with Paraguay, this Tuesday (10), at 9:30 pm, in Asunción.

According to Flamengo's planning, the The intention is for the players to arrive in Rio de Janeiro early in the morning to train with the rest of the squad this Wednesday (11). In this sense, Tite should have the athletes available for the confrontation with Bahia. The information comes from journalist Venê Casagrande.

On the other hand, Guillermo Varela and Erick Pulgar only return to Brazil according to the schedules made by the respective teams: Uruguay and Chile. Therefore, athletes do not train the day before the game, but they can be used by the coaching staff if they pass the physical question.

For the decisive game, Flamengo may also have the return of three important players against Bahia. This is because Arrascaeta, Gabigol and Léo Pereira participated in training with the rest of the squad and should be available to Tite in the duel.

Flamengo will face Bahia next Thursday (12), at 9:45 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã. With a 1-0 lead at Arena Fonte Nova, Mais Querido only needs a draw to confirm their place in the semi-final.