Without a break, Flamengo returns after defeat to Atlético-MG

Flamengo focuses its attention on the clash with Juventude , this Sunday (14), for the 23rd round of the Brasileirão. However, Filipe Luís' team is also starting to prepare for the next big challenge of the season : the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals, against Estudiantes (ARG).

STUDENTS HAVE CONFIRMED SHORTAGES

The Argentine team will be without right-back Eric Meza, one of the team's standout players . The player suffered a muscle injury in the adductor of his thigh and will continue to recover, being out of Thursday's match (18), at Maracanã.

FLAMENGO SITUATION

For the red-and-black team, midfielder Erick Pulgar is a certain absence. The Chilean is still recovering from a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot . Jorginho, Alex Sandro, and Varela are also doubtful for Filipe Luís, as they remain under treatment in the medical department.

DATES OF MATCHES AGAINST ESTUDIANTES

• Departure: September 18 (Thursday), at 9:30 pm, at Maracanã.
• Return: September 25, at Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium, in Argentina.

Whoever advances from this clash will face the winner of the duel between Racing (ARG) and Vélez Sarsfield (ARG).

FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME

Before the Libertadores, Flamengo returns to the field for the Brasileirão this Sunday (14) . The match will be against Juventude, at 4 pm (Brasília time), at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, for the 23rd round of the competition. The Mais Querido is the leader of the competition with 47 points, three more than the second-placed team, Cruzeiro.

Bolivia's all-time leading scorer and national idol, Marcelo Moreno, formerly of Flamengo, revealed he is considering coming out of retirement . The striker explained that Bolivia's qualification for the playoffs has rekindled his desire to wear the country's jersey once again.

Despite surpassing 100 caps for the national team, Marcelo Moreno has never played in a World Cup. Bolivia only participated in the tournament in 1930, 1950, and 1994 —when the center forward hadn't even begun his professional career in 2006.

Marcelo Moreno, ex-Flamengo, on returning to the World Cup: "Let's see what happens next"

With the team finishing sixth in the qualifiers, the striker had already expressed a desire to return if a World Cup berth became a reality. Now, he's considering the possibility of representing the country in the playoffs.

"I'm enjoying it to the fullest, I can't believe it. I needed to retire, I needed a break from my career . Today, with this happiness that the boys on the national team are giving us, it motivates us to do so many things... We'll see what happens next," he said in an interview with GE.

Marcelo Moreno officially retired in 2023, playing for Independiente del Valle (EQU). The following year, he played a farewell match for Cruzeiro, the club where he became an idol: " God willing and allowing, so be it . I feel good about returning. We'll see what happens. I'm making the most of it, and we'll analyze it carefully. That's the best answer I can give right now," the striker added.

NUMBERS FOR THE BOLIVIA NATIONAL TEAM

• 108 games played
• 31 goals scored (highest scorer in the country's history)
• Debut in 2007 , in a friendly against Peru
• He played in four Copa Américas (2007, 2015, 2019 and 2021)

TRAJECTORY IN CLUBS

Trained in the youth ranks of Oriente Petrolero (BOL) and Vitória, Marcelo Moreno built an international career, playing for Cruzeiro, Shakhtar Donetsk, Werder Bremen, Wigan, Grêmio, Flamengo , Changchun Yatai, Wuhan Zall, Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, Cerro Porteño and Independiente del Valle.

PASSAGE THROUGH FLAMENGO

Marcelo Moreno arrived at Flamengo in 2013, a year when the club was in a period of cost-cutting under Eduardo Bandeira de Mello. Signed on loan from Grêmio, he played just 20 games, scoring four goals and assisting one . In 2014, he returned to Cruzeiro, before beginning his career in Chinese football.

The September FIFA World Cup has ended , but the teams are already planning their next matches. Uruguay has confirmed two friendlies in October, against the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan, both in Malaysia, which could directly impact Flamengo .

Uruguay faces the Dominican Republic on October 10th in Kuala Lumpur. Three days later, they face Uzbekistan in Malacca . These matches are part of the team's preparation for the 2026 World Cup, for which La Celeste has qualified.

Although the Brazilian soccer calendar is interrupted during the FIFA World Cup, the strain of the long trip is a concern . Players like Arrascaeta , Varela, and Matías Viña, already heavily used this season, may feel the effects of the logistics.

HOW URUGUAY ARRIVES

In the last FIFA World Cup, Marcelo Bielsa's team confirmed their place in the World Cup. They played two matches: a 3-0 victory over Peru and a 0-0 draw with Chile . Arrascaeta, Varela, and Viña were called up, but only the full-back and the defender played in the second match.

AND FLAMENGO

Meanwhile, Flamengo focuses on the Brasileirão. Championship leader, Filipe Luís' team faces Juventude this Sunday (14), at 4 pm (Brasília time), at Alfredo Jaconi, for the 23rd round. Championship leader, Mengão has 47 points, three more than Cruzeiro, with one game less than Raposa.