MATÍAS VIÑA GETS PROMINENCE AT FLAMENGO AND TAKES UP COMPETITION ON THE LEFT SIDE

Of the four reinforcements hired by Flamengo in 2024, only one has managed to win the title so far: De la Cruz. However, another Uruguayan name begins to stand out and compete for space: Matías Viña. With a goal and an assist in a week, the left-back demonstrated efficiency when called upon, intensifying the competition for the position with Ayrton Lucas.

Viña was unfazed by criticism after a missed goal on his debut as starter, in the 1-1 draw against Millonarios, in Colombia. Against Bolívar, at the altitude of La Paz, the Uruguayan scored the goal that brought Flamengo back into the game after conceding a goal in the first minute.

In the classic against Botafogo, Ayrton Lucas was chosen as a starter, leaving Viña on the bench until the final minutes of the 2-0 defeat. However, in the 1-0 victory over Amazonas, at Maracanã, the Uruguayan was not only decisive with a perfect cross for Pedro's goal, but also stood out as the best on the field on a night where the performance of the rest of the team was questionable.

FLAMENGO HAS A DISPUTE ON THE EXPLORED LEFT SIDE 

< Viña's performance has gained recognition, especially from coach Tite, who observes in the player an offensive characteristic distinct from that of Ayrton Lucas: the ability to attack spaces by supporting himself from the inside. This was evident in the play with Bruno Henrique, in which the winger remained open while the Uruguayan advanced towards the baseline, resulting in an assist for Pedro.

Matías Viña's upward trajectory at Flamengo has generated debates about the dispute for left-back, with many fans considering the Uruguayan as a valid option for the starting line-up. Meanwhile, Ayrton Lucas needs to maintain his level of performance to avoid losing his position to the emerging competitor. The performance of both players will continue to be closely watched as the season progresses and competitions intensify.