The "De La Cruz Effect" at Flamengo: Volante stands out in the Brazilian Championship

Flamengo returns to the national stage this Saturday (12), after a stint at the Club World Cup, with full focus on the Brazilian Championship. The team led by Filipe Luís leads the table with 24 points, despite having played one game less, maintaining the best attack and the tightest defense in the competition so far. The ball rolls at 4:30 pm, at Maracanã, with broadcast on TV Globo and Premiere.

Flamengo will be without midfielder Erick Pulgar, who suffered a fractured right foot, and Pedro, who was sidelined by Filipe Luís . This will also be the first match without Gerson, who recently left the club to Zenit in Russia.

SAO PAULO SEEKS REACTION

On the other side, São Paulo is undergoing a period of restructuring. After a 3-1 loss to Vasco and the departure of Luis Zubeldía , the club has decided to bring back Hernán Crespo as coach. The São Paulo team will have important reinforcements who recovered during the break: Lucas Moura, Oscar, Marcos Antônio, and Ferreirinha are available again.

PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS

The red-and-black fans promise to once again fill the stadium. As of last Thursday (10), more than 46 thousand tickets had already been sold. With the removal of free tickets, the expectation is that around 60 thousand fans will attend Maracanã to support Mengão in its search for three more points.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO WATCH: FLAMENGO X SÃO PAULO

📆 Date: July 12 (Saturday)

🕓 Time: 4:30 pm (Brasília time)

📍 Location: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

📺 Broadcast: Globo and Premiere

👤 Referee: Wilton Pereira Sampaio (GO)

👥 Assistants: Bruno Boschilia (PR) and Bruno Raphael Pires (GO)

🎥 VAR: Braulio da Silva Machado (SC)

Probable lineups:

Flamengo : Rossi; Wesley, Leo Ortiz, Leo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Jorginho and De la Cruz; Luiz Araújo and Arrascaeta; Plata and Bruno Henrique.

Sovereign: Rafael; Sabino, Ferraresi and Alan Franco; Cédric Soares, Alisson, Marcos Antonio, Oscar and Enzo Díaz; Luciano and André Silva.

Flamengo's presence at the Club World Cup extended beyond the pitch. The direct impact on official merchandise sales highlighted the power of the red-and-black brand. According to data from Neotrust, an e-commerce monitoring company, the club saw a 55.1% increase in official jersey sales between June 15th and 30th.

AN OVERCHARGE OF THE MOST LOVED

In the same 15-day period the previous month, approximately 5,200 units had been sold. During the World Cup, the number jumped to 8,063 units, boosted by the club's significant participation in the tournament.

According to Vanessa Martins, marketing director at Neotrust, fan-consumer behavior is increasingly immediate. "Today's consumer doesn't wait to win a title to wear the jersey; they react in real time, driven by emotion and digital belonging," she explained. This movement reveals a growing engagement among the red-and-black fans, who respond quickly to moments of high club exposure, such as the match against Chelsea and the iconic victory over the English side.

GIANT NUMBERS OF THE MOST LOVED

Although not the highest percentage growth, Flamengo recorded the highest absolute sales volume among the Brazilian clubs participating in the Club World Cup. For comparison:

Flamengo: 8,063 shirts sold (+55.1%)

Fluminense: 3,129 shirts sold (+55.9%)

Palmeiras: 7,322 shirts sold (+16.6%)

Botafogo: 901 shirts sold (+37.8%)

The difference is even more significant when considering the national and international reach of the Flamengo brand, which already ranks among the clubs with the largest digital presence in South America. Beyond its commercial strength, Flamengo 's World Cup campaign also generated financial returns on the field. According to the data released, the club received US$27.71 million (approximately R$151.06 million) in bonuses paid by FIFA.

Jorginho will have the moment that every player dreams of when he arrives at Flamengo : playing at the Maracanã with the red-black shirt. After debuting at the Club World Cup, in the United States, the Italian-Brazilian midfielder should be a starter in the duel against São Paulo, scheduled for this Saturday (12), for the Brazilian Championship.

FLAMENGO HAS A NEW GAME MODEL

The match marks Flamengo's return to the Brasileirão after competing in the international tournament. Filipe Luís's team is currently top of the table and needs a win to stay atop the table. In an interview with FlaTV, Jorginho expressed emotion as he spoke about his anticipation of playing for the first time at Maracanã, the club's home ground and the scene of some of the club's greatest moments.

PROBLEM IN FILIPE LUÍS' TEAM

The match against São Paulo carries considerable weight in the standings. Flamengo leads the competition but faces direct competition from teams like Palmeiras and Botafogo. A victory is essential to maintain its lead and distance itself from its rivals. Furthermore, the match will serve to revive the Brazilian Championship's momentum, as the team had been focused on the Club World Cup, where it reached the semifinals.

Flamengo is expected to take the field at nearly full strength. With the exception of Erick Pulgar, who is suspended, the starting lineup will be available. The natural replacement will be Jorginho, who excelled in the United States and has already earned the trust of the coaching staff. The fans also promise to do their part. According to the club, as of Thursday afternoon (10), more than 46,000 tickets had already been sold.

A full house is expected to push the team toward another important victory in the Brasileirão. Jorginho is expected to play alongside Nicolás de la Cruz in the red-and-black midfield. With his excellent ball passing and versatility, the defensive midfielder impressed the coaching staff with his performances in the international tournament. His chemistry with his teammates is still developing, but expectations are positive.