Tite defined Flamengo and announced the 11 starters who will face Peñarol, this Thursday, at Maracanã, at 7pm. De la Cruz returns to the starting lineup in place of Léo Ortiz, and Alex Sandro and Plata were retained. The duel with the Uruguayans is the first between the teams in the quarter-finals of the Copa Conmebol Libertadores. Follow the Red and Black lineup:Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Pulgar, De la Cruz, Gerson and Arrascaeta; Plata and Bruno Henrique.

Alex Sandro and Plata, debutants in last Sunday's classic, remain in the team after having good performances in the draw against Vasco. Gabigol is now out of the relationship due to fibrosis in the posterior muscle of his right thigh. Flamengo, in a statement, reported that the athlete did not suffer any injury in the region. Check it out:

"The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo informs that the athlete Gabriel Barbosa underwent tests that did not diagnose an injury to the posterior muscle of his right thigh. However, the Technical Committee opted for precaution and did not list him for the duel against Peñarol due to fibrosis in the region. Gabi is handed over to physiotherapists and physical trainers for the series of decisive games of the season."

Flamengo faces Peñarol (URU) in the first game of the CONMEBOL Libertadores quarter-finals and, here, you can watch the broadcast, live, with 2h30 of pre-game, interviews, the team's arrival at Maracanã and everything more.

Follow the match live here:

This Saturday (14), the Flamengoadopted a strategy of preserving some of its main players during training. Fabrício Bruno, Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique were spared from part of the activities in order to control the load of physical effort, thinking about tomorrow's duel. Although they did not fully participate in the training sessions, the trio are confirmed as starters in the match.

The decision to preserve the athletes is in line with common practices in modern football, where monitoring workload is essential to avoid injuries, especially in players who usually play in most games and are in decisive phases of the season. This type of management is particularly important at times when the calendar becomes tight, with consecutive games.

Fabrício Bruno, the team's defender, has been a fundamental piece in the red and black defense, and its preservation in training indicates the concern of the medical department and the technical committee in keeping the athlete in the best conditions for the confrontation. Arrascaeta, Uruguayan midfielder, is one of the team's creative pillars, responsible for organizing and articulating offensive plays. Bruno Henrique, in turn, is one of the most dangerous attackers in the squad, with a combination of speed and skill that often makes the difference in games.

The choice to spare these three athletes reflects careful preparation for the game, with a focus on ensuring they are fully fit by the time the kick-off whistles. The measure aims to avoid unnecessary wear and tear in training activities, while ensuring that players are ready to perform to the maximum during the 90 minutes of the match.

The practice of load control is increasingly frequent in elite clubs, especially in teams that compete in several competitions throughout the year. In the case of Flamengo< /a>, who has a schedule full of commitments both in the Brazilian Championship and in other competitions, it is crucial to balance rest time and work on the field to avoid losing athletes due to physical issues.