Corinthians midfielder talks about defeat to Flamengo to justify Libertadores game

After beating Internacional 1-0 at Maracanã , in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores, Flamengo is preparing for the decisive duel of the return leg, this Wednesday (20), at Beira-Rio. Conmebol confirmed that Uruguayan referee Esteban Ostojich will be responsible for conducting the match .

In the 2025 edition of the tournament, the Uruguayan has already refereed seven matches. The VAR role will be handled by his compatriot Andres Cunha . This, however, is Flamengo 's first match refereeing by Ostojich in the current edition of the continental competition.

FLAMENGO'S RETROSPECT WITH OSTOJICH IN THE LIBERTADORES

• 2021 – LDU (EQU) 2 x 3 Flamengo
• 2022 – Flamengo 1 x 0 Corinthians
• 2023 – Ñublense (CHI) 1 x 1 Flamengo
• 2024 – Palestino (CHI) 1 x 0 Flamengo

In total, there were four Mengão games under Ostojich's refereeing, with two wins, one draw and one defeat .

HOW WAS THE FIRST GAME?

In the Maracanã match, played last Wednesday (13), Bruno Henrique scored, with a header, the winning goal for the red-black team in the first half. With the result, Filipe Luís' team can draw at Beira-Rio to advance to the quarterfinals .

RED-BLACK AGENDA

Before the decision for the Libertadores, Flamengo and Internacional meet again this Sunday (17), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time) , at Beira-Rio, for the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship. Mengão is the leader of the competition with 40 points, three more than the vice-leader, Cruzeiro, and with one game less than Raposa.

Flamengo's top scorer this season , Arrascaeta gave a press conference this Friday (15), at Ninho do Urubu, and did not spare praise for coach Filipe Luís. The number 10 highlighted that the coach has been achieving results that others have not achieved at the club.

Arrascaeta on Filipe Luís at Flamengo: "Often they don't appreciate what Filipe is doing"

"We talk practically every day, sometimes before training, sometimes after. I'm happy with the work he's done here. We know Flamengo is different, the pressure is immense . They often don't appreciate what Filipe is doing with this team," said the Uruguayan, before adding:

"As qualified as the squad is, other coaches haven't been able to do what he's doing. It's a tribute to him. The way we play, the goals we score, and our defensive solidity . This is the result of his work. My respect for him goes beyond football," he concluded.

BEST MOMENT FOR THE CLUB?

In the 2025 season, Arrascaeta has scored 14 goals in 38 matches, enjoying a high level of technical development. Under Filipe Luís, the midfielder has begun to play more centrally in the attack , enhancing his skills. For many, this is the most impactful period of his career at Flamengo since arriving in 2019.

NEXT CHALLENGE

With Arrascaeta available, Flamengo faces Internacional this Sunday (17), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Beira-Rio, for the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship. The duel opens the return leg of the competition and will serve as a preview for the decisive clash between the teams in the Libertadores , scheduled for next week.

Flamengo remains firmly at the top of the Brasileirão , maintaining a lead over the second-place team despite having played a game less. They also opened up a lead in the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 by beating Internacional 1-0 in the first leg.

MANAGEMENT TAKES ANTICIPATION TO ENSURE THE FUTURE

Aiming to maintain the core of the project, Flamengo is already taking steps to prevent the departure of key players. According to information from the 'Bolavip' portal, the board has begun talks to renew the contract of Filipe Luís , who has been excelling at the helm of the team and imprinting his style on the squad.

NEW CONTRACT DETAILS

Filipe Luís's current contract expires at the end of this season. The proposal is for a two-year extension, until December 2027. The internal evaluation is positive, despite the elimination from the Copa do Brasil. The board believes the focus should remain on the Brasileirão and the Libertadores, competitions in which the team has been performing consistently and is contending for the title.

LIBERTADORES AND BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS ENCOURAGE THE MARKET

Aware of the demands of the competitions, the board is working to strengthen the squad. Among the priorities is signing a goalkeeper , and the club is closely monitoring the situation of Gabriel Brazão, Santos's starting goalkeeper, although a negotiation this season is considered unlikely.

Meanwhile, potential departures are also being evaluated during this transfer window. One example is Matheus Gonçalves, who is reportedly dissatisfied with the lack of opportunities under Filipe Luís. The midfielder has offers from CSKA Moscow in Russia and Red Bull Bragantino.