Journalist analyzes Flamengo's attack without Pedro and says the real thing: "It's not at a technical level for the team"

Tite defined Flamengo and announced the 11 starters who will face Peñarol, this Thursday, at Maracanã, at 7pm. De la Cruz returns to the starting lineup in place of Léo Ortiz, and Alex Sandro and Plata were retained. The duel with the Uruguayans is the first between the teams in the quarter-finals of the Copa Conmebol Libertadores. Follow the Red and Black lineup:Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Pulgar, De la Cruz, Gerson and Arrascaeta; Plata and Bruno Henrique.

Alex Sandro and Plata, debutants in last Sunday's classic, remain in the team after having good performances in the draw against Vasco. Gabigol is now out of the relationship due to fibrosis in the posterior muscle of his right thigh. Flamengo, in a statement, reported that the athlete did not suffer any injury in the region. Check it out:

"The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo informs that the athlete Gabriel Barbosa underwent tests that did not diagnose an injury to the posterior muscle of his right thigh. However, the Technical Committee opted for precaution and did not list him for the duel against Peñarol due to fibrosis in the region. Gabi is handed over to physiotherapists and physical trainers for the series of decisive games of the season."

Flamengo faces Peñarol (URU) in the first game of the CONMEBOL Libertadores quarter-finals and, here, you can watch the broadcast, live, with 2h30 of pre-game, interviews, the team's arrival at Maracanã and everything more.

Follow the match live here:

The Flamengois facing a challenging phase without Pedro's presence on the field, and this has generated many discussions among fans and analysts. The absence of a center forward of Pedro's caliber has been felt at crucial moments, such as in the recent game in which Bruno Henrique had a clear chance to score, but was unable to finish successfully. Many argue that, if Pedro had been on the field, that move would have resulted in a goal.

Pedro is recognized for his precise finishing ability and for being the type of striker who, when given an opportunity, tends not to waste it. . His absence, whether for physical reasons or the coach's choices, leaves a gap in Flamengo's attack. Even with two center forwards on the bench, none of them come close to offering the same quality and precision that Pedro delivers. This raises the question: why are Flamengo not able to make the most of their other attackers efficiently? Or could it be that, in fact, the team depends too much on Pedro to convert opportunities into goals?

The question that arises put is if the Flamengo became excessively dependent on Pedro. The club has a squad considered strong and deep, with several talented players, but the lack of a worthy substitute in command of the attack has highlighted a certain fragility. With Pedro out of action, the team loses firepower, which has been a decisive factor in recent matches.

Flamengo still has center forwards in the squad, but none of them have been able to fill the gap left by Pedro. This is a point of frustration for fans, who see in matches the absence of a “killer”, that player who does not miss clear chances to score. When the ball reaches Bruno Henrique or Gabigol, the finishing often does not have the same efficiency that Pedro would demonstrate in similar situations.