Soccer
12 Mai 2025 | 17:32 |
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Flamengo takes to the field this Thursday (15), for the fifth round of the group stage of the Libertadores, with a delicate mission against LDU, at Maracanã. And the challenge goes beyond the opponent. With the injuries of Erick Pulgar and Allan, Filipe Luís has a real problem to solve in the midfield.
I would put Léo Ortiz as the first midfielder" - said Venê Casagrande
The only player available for the first defensive midfielder role is the young Evertton Araújo, who still has few minutes in the main team. Given this scenario, improvisation appears as an alternative, and one name has gained traction behind the scenes: Léo Ortiz. The defender, signed from Red Bull Bragantino, has already played as a defensive midfielder on a few occasions, especially with coach Filipe Luis . The analysis was raised by Venê Casagrande, during his participation in the SBT Esporte Rio program, and is supported by names of the coaching staff.
— I would put Léo Ortiz as the first defensive midfielder, not Evertton Araújo. Then you would put Danilo and Léo Pereira in defense, which would be a great defensive duo and would handle LDU's attack. In addition, you would have Ortiz as the first defensive midfielder, with a good ball release — analyzed Venê. Despite not having played in the middle since Filipe Luís took over as interim coach, Ortiz has already made it clear that he is available to play different roles. The defender says he is comfortable helping out, even outside of his original position.
— Since I arrived, I said I would be available in any position. I did well, the players came back. Obviously I prefer to play in defense, it's my position. I really said I didn't want to change permanently, but I would never say I would refuse to play as a defensive midfielder — Ortiz said, back in April.
The idea of putting Léo Ortiz in the middle also gained strength due to the number 3's recent performance. Secure in marking and with good passing, the defender can offer a cleaner game construction and better protect the defensive line, something that Flamengo missed in previous games without Pulgar.
The red-and-black fans sell out tickets in record time for the match against Grêmio at Maracanã, reinforcing the expectation of a full house in the decisive clash
28 Ago 2025 | 21:15 |
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Flamengo announced this Thursday (28) that there are no more tickets available for the duel against Grêmio , next Sunday (31), for the Brazilian Championship. The expectation is more than 60 thousand fans at Maracanã, a scenario that promises to transform the stadium into a cauldron to push the Rio team in search of another victory in the national competition.
The match is considered crucial for both teams. Mengão, the outright leader with 46 points, is looking to extend its lead over Palmeiras, second with 42, and Cruzeiro , third with 41. Cruzeiro, meanwhile, sees the match as a chance to react and halt the Rio de Janeiro team's momentum.
More than 60,000 tickets were made available, and approximately 65,000 people are expected to attend Maracanã, including free tickets. Tickets ranged from R$80 in the South section to R$500 in Maracanã Mais. All tickets were sold five days in advance.
The last time the team played at the stadium was in the 8-0 rout of Vitória , on a Monday night. Even at the unusual time, more than 60,000 fans showed up to support the team.
Flamengo 's likely starting lineup is expected to retain the same core from the last game. Thus, Filipe Luís is expected to field: Rossi, Varela, Léo Pereira, Léo Ortiz, Ayrton Lucas, Jorginho, Saúl, Arrascaeta, Plata, Samuel Lino, and Pedro.
The defender of the Mais Querido appeared at the Barra da Tijuca Court in a hearing about his children and denied failing to fulfill his obligations as a father.
28 Ago 2025 | 20:38 |
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Flamengo defender Léo Pereira was face to face with his ex-wife, Tainá Castro, in a hearing held this Thursday (28), at the Barra da Tijuca Forum, in Rio de Janeiro. The judicial meeting dealt with matters related to the former couple's children, Matteo, 4, and Helena, 5.
After leaving the scene, the player stated in an interview with the Leo Dias website that the process is proceeding smoothly and emphasized that he is upholding his parental responsibilities. " It was very calm, easy. It was just a hearing to discuss the children's issues. Today we only talk about the children. We have a good relationship, I've never failed to provide for the children, I'm very calm, the truth will always come out," the athlete stated.
Earlier, the LeoDias website revealed that Léo Pereira was given 72 hours to pay overdue child support. Failure to comply could result in arrest. The player has publicly denied this claim.
The marriage between the athlete and the digital influencer ended in 2023. Currently, Tainá Castro is married to fellow player Éder Militão, with whom she has a 3-year-old daughter , Cecília, the result of the Real Madrid defender's relationship with Karoline Lima, Léo Pereira's current girlfriend.
Hours before the hearing, Tainá Castro took to social media to report an unusual act by her ex-husband. According to her, Léo Pereira picked up their son Matteo to take him to soccer practice, a gesture that doesn't happen often.
The 35-year-old referee from Minas Gerais has already registered more than 360 infractions in 12 Serie A matches and tends to chop up games, although he issues cards within the national average.
28 Ago 2025 | 18:26 |
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The clash between Flamengo and Grêmio , scheduled for this Sunday (31), at 4 pm, at Maracanã, for the Brazilian Championship, will be conducted by Paulo Zanovelli . The 35-year-old referee from Minas Gerais is refereeing a game for the Mais Querido for the second time this season . In the first opportunity, against Mirassol, his performance generated criticism due to the excessive stoppages.
In that match, 36 fouls were called, 23 committed by the Red-Blacks and 13 by the opponents. The referee's style worries fans and experts, as the match could lose intensity and effective ball play.
The numbers confirm the trend. In 12 Brasileirão 2025 matches, Zanovelli called 362 fouls, an average of 30.17 fouls per match. This rate is considered high, especially compared to the Premier League , where the average is around 20 fouls per game.
Despite this, the issuing of cards hasn't kept pace with the same intensity. The referee has handed out 54 yellow cards so far, resulting in an average of 4.5 warnings per game , within the national league standard.
Maracanã is preparing for a big party next Sunday (30). With all tickets sold out, the expectation is for more than 60 thousand people present at the stadium . The Nation will be in force after the great 8-0 victory over the victory in the last round.
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