"IF A WINNER HAD TO COME OUT TODAY, IT WOULD BE FLAMENGO", SAYS BRUNO HENRIQUE ABOUT THE MATCH AGAINST PALMEIRAS

The Rubro-Negra Nation is guaranteeing its presence at Maracanã for the clash between Flamengo and Peñarol, next Thursday- fair (19), at 7pm, for the Libertadores quarter-finals. With three days left until the game, Mengão fans have already sold out tickets in two sectors, while four others are still available for purchase.

The North and South sectors, the most popular and where the organized fans are located , there are no more tickets available. However, the red and black teams can still purchase tickets for the Upper East, Lower East, Lower West and Maracanã Mais sectors.

Ticket prices for the duel vary between R$240 and R$1,500 (integer prices ), but it is important to remember that there are half-price options, as well as discounts of up to 50% for fan members, depending on the plan. Tickets can be purchased at official website.

Leste Superior – General Public: R$240 (half: R$120)

Lower East – General Public: R$300 (half: R$150)

Lower West – General Public: R$400 (half : R$200)

Maracanã Mais – General Audience: R$1,500 (half: R$787.50)

Flamengo has already recorded the largest audience of the current edition of the Libertadores, with 65,381 present in the 2-0 victory to 0 over Bolívar, in the round of 16. On that occasion, Mengão broke the Brazilian football attendance record in 2024.

However, this number was surpassed recently, in the match against Bahia in the semi-finals of the Copa do Brasil, when 65,662 fans filled the Maracanã to accompany the 1-0 victory. With strong ticket sales for Flamengo x Peñarol, everything indicates that Maracanã will be full again, boosting the pace team looking for another victory in the continental competition.

Several Uruguayan newspapers covered the tie between Flamengo and Vasco this Sunday (15). Among the main vehicles, “El País” and “Montevidéu Portal” highlighted that Luiz Araújo left the classic with a possible knee injury and could be absent for Rubro-Negro in the first game of the Libertadores quarter-finals against Peñarol, next Thursday (19).

Luiz Araújo played just 18 minutes in the classic. The attacker felt his knee after a challenge with a Vasco defender and even tried to continue on the field, but ended up being replaced by Arrascaeta. At half-time, Flamengo issued a statement informing that the player will be re-evaluated by the medical department at Ninho do Urubu. The squad will be presented again this Monday afternoon (16).

Uruguayan newspapers consider the possible absence of Luiz Araújo a big problem for Mengão. The athlete is a starter in Tite's team, with the most matches for Flamengo this season (50) and leader in assists (10).

The newspaper 'El País' classified the player as a key player for the team: “The injury to Luiz Araújo, one of the most important players in Mengão's squad, expands the list of injured players just a few days before the clash against Peñarol in the Copa Libertadores.”

The 'Montevideo Portal' followed the same line, highlighting the importance of the striker: “In addition to the result, another bad news for Peñarol's next rival in the Copa Libertadores it was the departure of Luiz Araújo. The fast right-winger, starter for Flamengo, felt pain in his right knee after a blow.”

Currently, Flamengo's medical department has five injured players: De La Cruz, Michael, Cebolinha, Viña and Pedro, with the trio formed by Cebolinha, Viña and Pedro only expected to return in 2025.

While awaiting Luiz Araújo's diagnosis, coach Tite revealed, after the draw against Vasco, that he hopes to count on De La Cruz for the duel against Peñarol . According to the coach, the Uruguayan's presence could improve the effectiveness of the team, which has shown good performance in recent matches.

“In training, when he (De la Cruz) was leaving, I asked 'is there enough for 20? minutes?'. He smiled, because he couldn't. The physical department definitely said they were not in a position to do so. Not even him feeling well. Especially because you have to talk to the athlete, because then there is the charge. Hopefully, and I hope that he can be there on Thursday to reproduce today's performance, with greater effectiveness”, said Tite in the post-game press conference between Flamengo x Vasco.

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.