Soccer

Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao - Time and where to watch Vini Jr, ex-Flamengo

Merengue club returns to the field in La Liga after being eliminated in the Champions League by Arsenal and welcomes the club from the Basque country; former Mengão player should be a starter

Vini Jr, ex-Flamengo, enters the field for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao - Photo: Reproduction/Real Madrid
Vini Jr, ex-Flamengo, enters the field for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao - Photo: Reproduction/Real Madrid

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After being eliminated from the Champions League , Real Madrid will face Athletic Bilbao this Sunday (20) at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, at 4 pm (Brasília time), for the 32nd round of La Liga . Both teams are on the back of victories in the last round and promise a balanced clash.


Real Madrid beat Alaves 1-0 away from home and are looking to maintain their positive run . Bilbao beat Rayo Vallecano 3-1 at home and will be looking to surprise the Merengues in Madrid.


TEAMS MOMENT


In their last five La Liga games, Real Madrid have won four and lost just one . Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, are undefeated in the same period : two wins and three draws. The match will be broadcast live on two platforms: ESPN on cable TV and Disney+ for streaming.

PROBABLE LINEUPS


REAL MADRID: Courtois; Lucas Vázquez, Tchouaméni, Rüdiger, Fran García; Brahim Díaz, Modric, Valverde, Bellingham; Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. Coach: Carlo Ancelotti.

ATHLETIC BILBAO: Unai Simón; Óscar de Marcos, Yeray Álvarez, Dani Vivian, Yuri Berchiche; Mikel Vesga, Oihan Sancet; Nico Williams, Iker Muniain, Álex Berenguer; Iñaki Williams. Coach: Ernesto Valverde.

EX-FLAMENGO ON THE FIELD

Real Madrid's standout player, Vini Jr , who was discovered by Flamengo , continues to be one of the team's most dangerous weapons. In La Liga, the number 7 has scored 10 goals and provided five assists, forming a strong attacking trio alongside Rodrygo and Mbappé.

HARD ELIMINATION

Real Madrid are looking to bounce back after being knocked out of the Champions League by Arsenal . The Merengues were defeated in both matches by the Gunners, 3-0 away from home and 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. As a result, Carlo Ancelotti's team are treating La Liga as their priority for the rest of the season.



Soccer

With 3 important losses, Flamengo announces the players for the duel against LDU

Despite important absences, Rubro-Negro travels to Ecuador and prepares for a clash at the altitude of Quito in the 3rd round

With absences due to injuries and altitude issues, Flamengo defines list to face LDU in Quito for the Libertadores - photo: reproduction
With absences due to injuries and altitude issues, Flamengo defines list to face LDU in Quito for the Libertadores - photo: reproduction

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Flamengo left for Ecuador on Sunday afternoon (20), where they will face LDU in Quito in the third round of the group stage of the Copa Libertadores. The match is scheduled for Tuesday (22), at 7 pm (Brasília time) , at the Casa Blanca Stadium. Coach Filipe Luís released the list of players called up for the match and has already started making adjustments to face the challenges of altitude.


Three players did not travel with the delegation for different reasons. Full-back Alex Sandro was ruled out after feeling pain in his thigh during the game against Juventude and remains under the care of the Medical Department. Allan and De La Cruz are also confirmed absences . Both athletes face physiological difficulties in matches at altitude, conditions similar to those in the Ecuadorian stadium.


DE LA CRUZ AND ALLAN ARE CUT OFF


De La Cruz had already been absent from the Uruguayan national team in the last FIFA World Cup for the same reason. Allan, in turn, was out of the match against Bolívar in the previous edition of the Libertadores. The midfielder has sickle cell disease, which requires medical precautions to avoid complications at high altitudes, as is the case in Quito.

Despite the absences, the list includes experienced and essential athletes in Flamengo 's squad. Among those included are goalkeepers Rossi, Matheus Cunha and Dyogo Alves; defenders Léo Pereira, Léo Ortiz and João Victor; as well as midfielders Gerson, Arrascaeta, Erick Pulgar and João Alves. In attack, names such as Bruno Henrique, Pedro, Luiz Araújo and Michael reinforce the offensive sector.


DUEL BETWEEN LDU AND FLAMENGO

The match against LDU is considered crucial for Flamengo 's ambitions in the continental competition. With the group in a tight spot after two rounds, a victory could mean leadership and greater peace of mind in the next group stage.


Soccer

Vasco's hero against Flamengo, Léo Jardim celebrates: "I'm there for this"

The Cruzmaltino goalkeeper shines in the classic between Vasco and Flamengo, makes seven saves and guarantees a draw at Maracanã in the fifth round of the Brasileirão

Léo Jardim shines in the classic between Vasco and Flamengo, makes seven saves and guarantees a draw at Maracanã in the fifth round of the Brasileirão - photo
Léo Jardim shines in the classic between Vasco and Flamengo, makes seven saves and guarantees a draw at Maracanã in the fifth round of the Brasileirão - photo

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The classic between Vasco and Flamengo , valid for the 5th round of the Brazilian Championship, ended goalless on Saturday night (19), at Maracanã. The big name of the confrontation was goalkeeper Léo Jardim , responsible for holding back the Mais Querido's attack with decisive saves throughout the match. The goalkeeper's solid performance guaranteed an important point for the Cruz-Maltino team.


In total, Léo Jardim made seven saves — four of which were classified as difficult — and was essential in preventing Mengão from scoring. The goalkeeper showed confidence and sharp reflexes, especially in the second half, when the opponent intensified the offensive pressure.


VASCO CREATES GOOD CHANCES


The team led by Fábio Carille showed good tactical posture and almost opened the scoring in the first half, with a strong shot from Paulo Henrique that hit the crossbar. For much of the game, the team adopted a reactive strategy , betting on quick counterattacks. However, they lacked the precision in their finishing to convert the opportunities into an advantage on the scoreboard.

I'm happy to be able to help the team..."


After the final whistle, Léo Jardim commented on the importance of his performance: “ I’m happy to be able to help the team. We had chances, and that’s what I’m there for , to help when necessary.” The goalkeeper also highlighted the affection of the fans: “The way to repay the support is with work. I’m happy for this recognition,” he said, valuing the point won against one of the strongest rivals in the competition.

GOALLESS DRAW

The goalless result highlighted Vasco's defensive consistency and Flamengo's difficulty in converting chances into goals , despite their superior possession. The Rio derby was played with intensity.


Soccer

Romário debuts as a commentator in a classic and divides opinions in the broadcast of Vasco x Flamengo

Romário's participation in Amazon Prime's coverage of the game generated mixed reactions among fans; goalkeeper Léo Jardim's performance was a highlight

Romário comments on the Vasco x Flamengo classic with Galvão and divides fans; Léo Jardim shines as the highlight of the match - photo: reproduction
Romário comments on the Vasco x Flamengo classic with Galvão and divides fans; Léo Jardim shines as the highlight of the match - photo: reproduction

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Former player Romário was alongside Galvão Bueno in the broadcast of Vasco x Flamengo , in the fifth round of the Brazilian Championship. The four-time champion's participation, in a one-off role as a commentator on Amazon Prime, divided opinions among fans who watched the classic. While some approved of the partnership with the narrator, others criticized Baixinho's lack of resourcefulness, pointing out short lines and shallow comments.


The match between Vasco and Mais Querido ended in a 0-0 draw on Saturday (19) at Maracanã. The highlight of the match was goalkeeper Léo Jardim, who secured the result with decisive saves, especially in the second half. His performance was crucial in preventing the red-black team from scoring on several occasions, and he was considered by many to be the best player on the field.


VASCO TRIED TO SURPRISE FLAMENGO


Despite being considered the weakest team technically, Vasco surprised in the first half with an attacking and well-organized stance. The team led by Fábio Carille not only withstood the pressure from their rivals , but also managed to create good opportunities in fast counterattacks, making the game difficult for Mengão.

MATCH HAS INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS


Even with the score tied, the classic had moments of great intensity . For Cruz-Maltino, Paulo Henrique hit the post and Nuno Moreira forced Rossi to make a spectacular save. For Flamengo , number 8 Gerson drew attention with good finishes, forcing Léo Jardim to intervene safely.

ROMÁRIO MEETS GALVÃO AGAIN IN BROADCAST

Romário's debut as a commentator came in one of the most anticipated matches of the round, but raised doubts about his continued involvement in sports broadcasts . The lack of in-depth analysis and the discreet tone contrasted with the usual energy of classics between Vasco and Flamengo.


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