
Soccer
01 Nov 2024 | 21:05 |
A Copa do Brasil, without a doubt, is one of the most prestigious and challenging competitions in national football. With its unique and competitive format, which involves teams from different regions and levels, it represents a major title for any Brazilian club. For Flamengo, however, who entered 2024 with high expectations on several fronts, winning just the Copa do Brasil could be considered a "consolation prize". This vision is built on the club's performance throughout the season, with ups and downs that frustrated a large part of the fans.
In 2024, Flamengo entered as one of the favorites in all the competitions it competed in. In the Libertadores, a competition that the club recently won and which was expecting a new title, the campaign was far from expected. The Flamengo struggled in the group stages, progressing with tight results and inconsistent performances. In the knockout stage, the situation worsened. The elimination against Peñarol in the round of 16, without scoring a single goal in the two games, left a bitter mark for the club and its fans, who expected at least a competitive performance.
FLAMENGO HAS A TOUGH MISSION
Performance in Brazilian Championship also contributes to the feeling of disappointment. Flamengo, despite being one of the main powers in the country, has fluctuated in its performance. In a few rounds, it was at the top of the table and, on several occasions, it chose to spare players in critical rounds to prioritize other competitions. This strategy, however, did not bring the desired results. Now, in the final stretch of the championship, Flamengo is not one of the direct candidates for the title, falling behind the main competitors and with no real chance of fighting for the cup.
WHAT WILL BE DONE IN THE SEASON
Thus, the current scenario points to the possibility of the club ending the year with only the Copa do Brasil as a trophy. For many, this achievement, although important, may not reflect the potential and investment that Flamengo made in assembling the squad and hiring high-level professionals, such as the coach. However, it is necessary to recognize that the problem does not just lie in not winning the Libertadores or Brasileirão, but in the way the eliminations occurred, with performances below expectations, both collectively and individually.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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.