
Soccer
21 Nov 2023 | 07:48 |
The week at the 'Temple of Football' will be very busy! Even today (21), a sequence of three consecutive games begins at Maracanã, with Brazil x Argentina kicking off. In addition to the World Cup qualifying match, there are two Brasileirão games to take place, with the two 'owners' of the stadium hosting their rivals.
This Tuesday (21) at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), the Brazilian team faces the current world champions, fighting to stay at the top of the Qualifiers leaderboard with just 7 points and 5th position. At the moment, Argentina leads the South American ranking, with 12 accumulated points, followed by Uruguay, which has 10 points.
One day later, on November 22nd (Wednesday), it is Fluminense's turn to use the Maraca field to face São Paulo. The match valid for the Brazilian Championship must start at 9:30 pm (Brasília time).
Flamengo hosts Bragantino on Thursday (23). The match had been postponed, because it was for the 30th round of the Brasileirão. The two teams will face each other at 9:30 pm (Brasília time).
With such a busy schedule, the pitch is a major concern for the stadium management. Therefore, some special measures will be taken, so that it does not wear out too much throughout the week.
One of the main measures adopted by the Maracanã maintenance team was to make precise cuts in the grass, an essential practice to promote the uniformity of the field. These cuts, in addition to providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance, play a crucial role in the strength and leveling of the playing surface. Those responsible for maintenance also chose to reduce the height of the field, seeking to ensure a more homogeneous resistance over the three consecutive games.
Cleaning the pitch is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also a functional measure . Care between each match includes a thorough cutting and cleaning process, aiming to maintain ideal conditions for the athletes' performance. In addition, the team responsible for maintenance works on making granular and liquid fertilizers, providing the necessary nutrients to revitalize the grass and ensure its robustness in the face of imminent challenges.
With an advantage built at Maracanã and a good run of form in the Brasileirão, Mais Querido seeks to confirm its qualification for the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores against Colorado
20 Ago 2025 | 20:25 |
This Wednesday (20), Flamengo is ready to face Internacional again, now for the second leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores, at the Beira-Rio Stadium. After winning the first leg 1-0, at the Maracanã, and beating the opponent again last Sunday (17), 3-1, for the Brazilian Championship, the Mais Querido arrives packed and with morale for the decisive confrontation.
The Rio de Janeiro team, currently the sole leader of the Brasileirão, is targeting the continental tournament in search of a place in the quarterfinals. With the advantage of a draw, the goal is to continue its quest for a fourth Libertadores title. In the group stage, the club finished second in Group C, totaling 11 points, the same as leaders LDU, with four wins, two draws, and only one loss.
With Erick Pulgar out injured, the coach is counting on Arrascaeta , Bruno Henrique, and midfield reinforcements to maintain the team's consistency against Internacional. The red-and-black lineup has already been confirmed for the match at Beira-Rio. The coach will field the following formation: Agustín Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Alex Sandro; Saúl, Jorginho, and Arrascaeta; Gonzalo Plata, Samuel Lino, and Bruno Henrique.
Experienced in decisive CONMEBOL matches, Esteban Ostojich will be the referee for the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 clash. CONMEBOL has appointed Uruguayan Esteban Ostojich as the referee for the match. With a history of decisive matches in the continental competition, the referee once again takes charge of a game of great importance.
Flamengo has the advantage in overall head-to-head record and remains undefeated against Colorado in Copa Libertadores matches. With their recent Brasileirão triumph, Flamengo has now leveled the playing field and now has 40 wins to Internacional's 39, with 34 draws in 113 meetings. In the Copa Libertadores, there are five clashes: two group stage matches in 1993, two quarterfinals in 2019, and one in the round of 16 in 2025.
Former Mengão coach presented demands considered unfeasible by the Santos board, including major reinforcements, and the club is now turning its attention
20 Ago 2025 | 20:00 |
Santos has decided to end negotiations to hire Jorge Sampaoli as its new coach . Despite being the favorite to replace Cléber Xavier, who was fired after the 6-0 thrashing by Vasco, Santos failed to meet the Argentine's demands.
The main obstacle was the list of reinforcements requested by the coach, which even included a starter from Sevilla, Spain. The board argued that current financial conditions would not allow for such a large investment , making the deal unfeasible.
In addition to seeking high-profile signings, Sampaoli reportedly also requested the release of youngsters Robinho Jr. and Gabriel Bontempo, recently integrated into the squad and well-regarded by fans. The coach's stance widened the gap between his ideas and the board's planning.
Negotiations made progress on salary points and even on the appointment of reinforcements , but no consensus was reached. The Argentine coach, who had a turbulent time with the Mais Querido in 2023, ended up being discarded by the Santos leadership.
While in charge of Flamengo in 2023, Sampaoli finished runner-up in the Copa do Brasil, but suffered significant burnout after an early elimination from the Copa Libertadores against Paraguayan club Olimpia. Recent history also weighed on internal assessments.
After winning the first leg at Maracanã, Mais Querido will play for a draw against Colorado to confirm their qualification for the Copa Libertadores.
20 Ago 2025 | 19:30 |
Flamengo returns to the field this Wednesday (20), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), to face Internacional at Beira-Rio Stadium, in Porto Alegre. The duel is valid for the second leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores. In the first leg, played at Maracanã, Rubro-Negro won 1-0 with a goal from Bruno Henrique and now only needs a draw to advance to the quarterfinals.
Fans will be able to watch the decisive match between Internacional and Flamengo live on broadcast, cable, and streaming TV. The game will be covered on three platforms. Rede Globo will broadcast the match on broadcast TV and Globoplay. ESPN subscribers will be able to watch on cable. Disney+ will also broadcast the match via exclusive streaming service.
Coach Roger Machado should keep his base in Colorado, while Filipe Luís has Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique in the starting lineup. Internacional should go to the field with: Rochet; Aguirre, Vitão, Juninho and Bernabei; Thiago Maia, Alan Rodríguez, Tabata, Alan Patrick and Wesley; Ricardo Mathias.
Flamengo 's likely lineup should have changes in midfield: Agustín Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Allan, Jorginho and Arrascaeta; Gonzalo Plata, Samuel Lino and Bruno Henrique.