World Cup: Playoff between América-MEX and LAFC for a place in Flamengo's group is confirmed by FIFA

Flamengo and Internacional face each other this Wednesday (13), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores. Coach Filipe Luís will not have Arrascaeta, suspended, and will have more absences due to injury, but there is an expectation for the return of important names.

Mengão should have the return of Jorginho, who was absent from the team in the last match in the Brazilian Championship, when the team beat Mirassol 2-1. Nico De La Cruz, who has not played since July 16 due to a left knee injury , trained with the squad on Monday (11) and could be included. Training on Tuesday (12) will define his presence among those called up.

PROBABLE LINEUP

The most likely lineup for the match is: Rossi; Alex Sandro, Léo Pereira, Léo Ortiz, and Emerson Royal; Allan, Jorginho, Samuel Lino, Luiz Araújo, and Plata; Pedro. Coach: Filipe Luís.

Among the confirmed absences are Erick Pulgar, recovering from surgery on the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, and Danilo, who is undergoing treatment for a hamstring injury in his right thigh. Arrascaeta is also out due to suspension after receiving his third yellow card in the group stage against Deportivo Táchira.

GAME GAINS WEIGHT

The ball kicks off at 9:30 p.m. at Maracanã Stadium , and a packed house is expected to push Flamengo toward the return leg, scheduled for the 20th at Beira-Rio. The Rio de Janeiro team's goal is to build a comfortable lead and take advantage of the home advantage to put pressure on their opponents.

Palmeiras has made progress in talks to sign Carlos Miguel, currently on his way out of Nottingham Forest, but the deal may take longer than expected. The reason is that the leaked negotiations changed the course of the latest negotiations , causing discomfort between the parties.

The situation is gaining momentum with the possibility of other clubs entering the competition. According to information from GoalBR, Flamengo and Bahia are evaluating the signing . In the case of the Rio de Janeiro club, the board has already expressed interest and is analyzing the feasibility of submitting a formal offer.

CARLOS MIGUEL IS SOUGHT AFTER IN THE MARKET

Standing at 6'4" and a standout performer in his respective competitions, former Corinthians player Carlos Miguel has become one of the most sought-after targets on the market . His profile appeals to clubs looking to bolster their defense with security and experience.

FLAMENGO LOOKS FOR ANOTHER OPTION

Enjoying a strong run in the Brasileirão and advancing in the Libertadores, Flamengo is already making moves behind the scenes to strengthen its squad. The board has prioritized the arrival of a new goalkeeper , especially given the confirmed departure of Matheus Cunha. The goalkeeper signed a pre-contract with Cruzeiro and will leave the club free of charge at the end of the season.

Despite their confidence in Rossi, Flamengo's board knows they need at least one more high-level goalkeeper on the roster. This time, the team wants to tap the transfer market to replace the Argentine , who has made some mistakes in recent games.

Since the victory over Fluminense on July 20, Flamengo's defense has faced a challenge in the absence of Danilo. The defender has missed six consecutive games, including the Copa do Brasil round of 16, but is showing significant progress in his recovery and is expected to return to training with the squad later this week.

Despite the progress, his participation against Internacional, this Wednesday (13), at Maracanã, for the Libertadores , is ruled out. The technical committee opts for caution, aiming to avoid the risk of new injury.

RETURN IS EXPECTED IN THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

The internal expectation is that Danilo will be available for the match against Colorado, valid for the Brazilian Championship, next Sunday (17), at 6:30 pm, at Beira-Rio. If the return is confirmed, the defender's presence will bring more stability to the defensive system and allow strategic rest for Léo Ortiz and Léo Pereira, who have been playing without rest since his injury.

Without Danilo, the central defender duo has started all six recent games , amassing 540 minutes of unsubstituted play. Their teammate's return is seen as crucial to relieving the strain and offering coach Filipe Luís new options.

FLAMENGO FACED AN INTENSE SEQUENCE

During the period without the defender, Flamengo faced crucial challenges. In addition to the Copa do Brasil match against Atlético-MG, which ended in elimination, the team played four Brasileirão matches, winning three and drawing one.