Flamengo's record cannot be beaten this season

The Flamengo squad completed preparations for the game against Grêmio, valid for the 27th round of the Brasileirão. According to information about the team drafted by Tite in training this Saturday (21), Argentine Carlos Alcaraz and young Lorran should be in the likely lineup. Furthermore, Carlinhos is considered the favorite to lead the red and black attack on Sunday (22), as reported by the portal 'Coluna do Fla'. Probable Flamengo lineup

Matheus Cunha; Wesley, David Luiz, Cleiton and Ayrton Lucas; Evertton Araújo, Allan and Alcaraz; Matheus Gonçalves, Lorran and Carlinhos.

Thinking about the important Libertadores game next Thursday (26), against Peñarol (URU ), which is worth a place in the semi-finals, Flamengo will enter the field with an alternative team on Sunday (22). On Friday (20), the club announced that 12 players will be rested and will not travel to Porto Alegre: Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira, Ayrton Lucas, Erick Pulgar, Léo Ortiz, Nicolás de la Cruz, Arrascaeta, Gonzalo Plata, Gerson and Bruno Henrique will remain in Rio de Janeiro.

Flamengo has also faced absences due to injuries. Are out: Everton Cebolinha (Achilles tendon rupture), Viña (cruciate ligament rupture and tibial fracture), Pedro (anterior cruciate knee ligament rupture), Michael (muscle injury), Luiz Araújo (knee cartilage fracture right) and Gabigol (fibrosis in the right thigh).

Situation in the Brasileirão

Currently in fourth place in the Brazilian Championship, with 45 points, Flamengo has 13 wins, six draws and six defeats. The team has scored 40 goals and conceded 29 so far. The team needs a victory to continue its rise in the table.

Grêmio x Flamengo

The clash between Grêmio and Flamengo will take place on Sunday (22), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time) , in Porto Alegre, for the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship. 

Doctor Luiz Antônio Vieira, responsible for Pedro's surgery, commented that the attacker's recovery has been very positive. The surgeon was responsible for reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament in Pedro's knees — on the right in 2018 and on the left this year. Vieira believes that the player's return will be better than his first injury, which occurred six years ago.

In an interview with the 'GE' portal, the doctor, who also operated on Bruno Henrique, detailed the surgical procedure, highlighting Pedro's physical and psychological qualities and reassured Flamengo fans about the possibility of the striker being present at the Club World Cup, in June next year.

“He was lucky not to have a meniscus injury , so joint rehabilitation is faster. We're still in September, I mean, he'll be there for about eight months, because that's around the time he turns around, between the eighth and ninth month. So I believe he has a chance. He is very dedicated, super focused on rehabilitation, does everything you tell him to, has strong legs, good muscles... I think he has a chance. He will be around the time he would more or less return”, said the doctor.

Luiz Antônio Vieira commented on the way Pedro is coping mentally with the situation. After suffering the same injury in 2018 to one knee, the attacker now has the anterior cruciate ligament in his other knee torn. The doctor highlighted that Flamengo's Shirt 9 is very calm and sees this as a learning experience for his life.

“He has one good thing: he is quite religious. So he believes that it is part of his life learning, that he had to go through this. He accepted, in a way he resigned himself a little. He said: ‘Doctor, I’ve been through this, I’m going to have to go through it again, it was supposed to be like this, it’s part of my life, let’s face it’. He is super calm about it”, explained Vieira.

In addition, Vieira mentioned the time that Pedro will be able to spend with his twin daughters, who were born just over a month ago.

“He’s at a stage where he just had a baby, right? He has one-month-old twins, so I told him: “Everything in life has a good and a bad side. You will now be able to live with your one-month-old daughters because playing football two or three times a week would be impossible, right”? So let's put it this way, there will be this good part, in inverted commas, of his drama”, concluded the surgeon.

Flamengo will only return to the field for the Brasileirão on Sunday (22), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), when they will face Grêmio in Porto Alegre. Meanwhile, the 27th round of the tournament for straight points begins this Saturday (21) with four matches.

4pm – Vitória x Juventude – Barradão Stadium

4pm – Corinthians x Atlético-GO – Neo Química Arena

6:30pm – Fluminense x Botafogo – Maracanã

9:30 pm – Fortaleza x Bahia – Arena Castelão

(All in Brasília time)

The first clashes take place at 4 pm, when Vitória receives Juventude in Salvador and, simultaneously, Corinthians face Atlético-GO in São Paulo, both matches with great importance in the fight against relegation. Later, at 6:30 pm, leader Botafogo faces Fluminense at Maracanã, in the Rio derby. Saturday's round ends with the duel between Fortaleza and Bahia, at 9:30 pm, at Arena Castelão.

Flamengo takes the field on Sunday (22), at 6:30 pm, to face Grêmio in Porto Alegre. The team needs a victory to maintain its position in the G-4 of the Brasileirão. Currently, Mengão has 45 points, with São Paulo right behind, with 44, which increases the pressure for victory.