Soccer

With no space at Flamengo, Cleiton was approached by the Portuguese giant - says portal

The young defender has not played since February and has received contact from Brazilian clubs and one of the main clubs in Portuguese football

With no space at Flamengo, Cleiton could leave the club and already has interest from a Portuguese club - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo
With no space at Flamengo, Cleiton could leave the club and already has interest from a Portuguese club - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo

12 Abr 2025 | 08:07 |

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With a contract until December, 21-year-old defender Cleiton is going through a decisive moment at Flamengo . No longer in coach Filipe Luís ' plans, the defender is looking for new paths in his career due to the lack of opportunities in the main squad.


PORTUGUESE GIANT INTERESTED


According to the 'MundoBola Flamengo' portal, Benfica , from Portugal, recently showed interest. In addition to the Portuguese giant, Vitória , from the Brazilian Serie A, and Remo also contacted the defender's agents, but none of the conversations progressed to a concrete negotiation . Despite the board's desire to renew the contract, the player prioritizes a scenario that offers more time on the field - something that is not currently foreseen at Rubro-Negro.


The distance from the team became even more evident in the last round of the Libertadores, when Cleiton was not even included in the 2-1 defeat to Central Córdoba, from Argentina. The episode reinforces the possibility of a departure even before the end of the contract.

While waiting for a decision, the defender continues training normally at Ninho do Urubu, keeping fit and looking for new opportunities to regain his leading role. Considered one of the great promises of the red-black youth teams, Cleiton was constantly praised by coach Tite , when he was still in charge of Mengão .


FLAMENGO X GREMIO

With doubts as to whether Cleiton will be available, Flamengo faces Grêmio this Sunday (13) at 5:30 pm (Brasília time) at Arena do Grêmio for the Brasileirão . Mengão is looking to recover after the defeat it suffered in the Libertadores against Central Córdoba and wants to have a good start to the championship to fight for the Brazilian title.


Soccer

What is Estudiantes' likely lineup against Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores? See

La Plata Club goes to Rio de Janeiro to face Mengão at Maracanã for the first leg of the competition's quarterfinals

Check out Estudiantes' likely lineup to face Flamengo in the Libertadores quarterfinals - Photo: Reproduction/Conmebol
Check out Estudiantes' likely lineup to face Flamengo in the Libertadores quarterfinals - Photo: Reproduction/Conmebol

18 Set 2025 | 11:33 |

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On Thursday night (September 18), Flamengo and Estudiantes face each other at Maracanã , in Rio de Janeiro, for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores 2025. The ball rolls at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), with exclusive broadcast on ESPN and Disney+.


COMPLICATED PROJECTION


Coach Eduardo Domínguez acknowledges the difficulty of the match, but is confident in the Argentine team's ability to achieve a good result away from home. Estudiantes arrives with high morale: they had a solid campaign in the group stage and eliminated Cerro Porteño in the round of 16 , with three away wins and only one loss, against Botafogo.


Probable line-up: Fernando Muslera; Román Gómez, Santiago Núñez, Facundo Rodríguez and Santiago Arzamendia; Tiago Palacios, Gabriel Neves, Santiago Ascacíbar, Mikel Amondarain and Cristian Medina; Guido Carrillo.

HEAVY DEFAULTS


Estudiantes will be without key players for the Rio clash. 33-year-old defender González Pírez, a River Plate alumnus, suffered a Grade 3 injury to his right hamstring and is expected to be out for at least a month, missing both games against Flamengo .

In attack, Colombian Edwuin Cetré, 27, is also out. He suffered a grade 1 muscle injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg and will not play at the Maracanã . However, he is expected to recover for the return leg, scheduled for September 25th in La Plata.



Soccer

Which channel will broadcast Flamengo's game today? Check the schedule and details.

Rubro-Negro faces the Argentines at Maracanã at 9:30 pm for the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals, with important returns and doubts in the squad

Flamengo and Estudiantes face off today at 9:30 pm at Maracanã in the Libertadores quarterfinals - photo: reproduction
Flamengo and Estudiantes face off today at 9:30 pm at Maracanã in the Libertadores quarterfinals - photo: reproduction

18 Set 2025 | 11:27 |

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The Brazilian Championship's undisputed leader, Flamengo, returns to the field this Thursday (18) to face Estudiantes in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. The match takes place at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, with live broadcast on ESPN. The return duel is scheduled for September 25, at Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium, in La Plata, also at 9:30 pm.


Coach Filipe Luís will have some key reinforcements. Varela and Bruno Henrique, who missed the win against Juventude, are available, as is Léo Ortiz, who served a suspension in the last round of the Brasileirão . Alex Sandro and Jorginho, on the other hand, are still doubtful, as they have been undergoing physical therapy and will have their status determined shortly before the match.


STUDENTS ARRIVE WITHOUT STAFF


Eduardo Domínguez's team will be without González Pirez and Edwuin Cetré, both injured. Even so, 27 players traveled to Rio de Janeiro for the match. The final training session took place at Fluminense's training center in the city's West Zone . In the round of 16, Estudiantes advanced by defeating Cerro Porteño 1-0 on aggregate.

PROBABLE LINEUPS


FLAMENGO (Coach: Filipe Luis): Rossi; Varela (Emerson Royal), Leo Ortiz, Leo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas (Viña); Saul, De La Cruz (Jorginho) and Arrascaeta; Plata, Pedro and Samuel Lino.

ESTUDIATES (Coach: Eduardo Domínguez): Muslera; Román Gómez, Santiago Núñez, Facundo Rodríguez and Santiago Arzamendia; Ascacíbar, Gabriel Neves, Amondarain and Medina; Tiago Palacios and Guido Carrillo.


Soccer

With tickets sold out, check out the attendance forecast for Flamengo vs Estudiantes

With all tickets sold, the quarterfinals are expected to surpass 69,447 fans and record the highest attendance in 2025.

Flamengo and Estudiantes will have a packed Maracanã in the Libertadores quarterfinals, with record attendance expected in Brazil in 2025 - photo: reproduction
Flamengo and Estudiantes will have a packed Maracanã in the Libertadores quarterfinals, with record attendance expected in Brazil in 2025 - photo: reproduction

18 Set 2025 | 11:07 |

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Flamengo and Estudiantes face each other this Thursday (17), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores. Fans of both teams have sold out their tickets and promise a huge party in the stands , worthy of a decisive clash in the main club tournament in South America.


Flamengo is expected to break the attendance record in Brazil in 2025. The current record is held by the Rio de Janeiro club itself, which drew 69,447 fans in its draw with Grêmio in the Brazilian Championship . With high demand for tickets and the atmosphere of the final, the number is projected to be surpassed this Thursday.


MARACANÃ HAS THE LARGEST CAPACITY IN THE COUNTRY


Maracanã has a capacity of approximately 78,000 fans, making it the largest stadium in the country. However, due to mandatory separation between fans, not all seats are available . Even so, Flamengo usually reaches nearly 70,000 attendance when it reaches its record attendance, which is expected for this match.

Rubro-Negro reached the quarterfinals after eliminating Internacional , while Estudiantes advanced by defeating Cerro Porteño. The semifinal spot will be decided in the second leg in Argentina next week.


FLAMENGO LEADS RANKING
  • 69,447 – Flamengo 1x1 Grêmio
  • 69,393 – Flamengo 0x0 Fluminense
  • 68,483 – Flamengo 1x0 Internacional
  • 67,501 – Flamengo 4x0 Corinthians
  • 67,359 – Flamengo 2x0 Sao Paulo


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