
Soccer
Without Saul, check out Flamengo's likely lineup to face Bahia in the Brasileirão
05 Out 2025 | 10:27
Soccer
05 Jun 2025 | 08:55 |
Ecuador's national team coach, Sebastián Beccacece, spoke out this Wednesday (4) about the controversial call-up of Gonzalo Plata , despite being injured. The episode caused friction between Flamengo and the Ecuadorian Federation, but ended with the definition that the striker will return to the club next Friday (6).
Ecuador coach on Flamengo's Plata: "They are part of this group, that's why they are here"
According to Beccacece, the objective of the call-up was not to use the player on the field, but to keep him integrated into the group. “We wanted to take advantage of these seven days, because we knew about Enner and Gonzalo’s situation . They are part of this group, that’s why they are here. When a group is prepared, you want to share it with these players,” explained the coach.
According to the coach, there was an expectation that Plata could recover in time for the second game of the FIFA Date , against Peru, next Tuesday (10). Ecuador already faces Brazil this Thursday (5), for the World Cup Qualifiers.
“I haven’t seen him for three months. If I have the possibility of a player who doesn’t make it to the first game but can play in the second, I’ll call him up. And if he doesn’t make it, I’ll call him up too, because he’s part of the group ,” he added.
Plata's call-up despite being injured was just the beginning of the impasse. Last Friday (30), Flamengo released an official statement criticizing the visit of members of the Ecuadorian Federation's medical department to the athlete's home without the club's authorization. At the time, the professionals performed procedures on the player's knee — which is suffering from edema —, which, according to the club, went against the established recovery plan.
“During the visit, they carried out procedures on the affected knee without Flamengo’s knowledge, with the aim of bringing forward stages in his return to the pitch, which interferes irresponsibly with the recovery planning ,” the club said in a statement.
The president of the Ecuadorian Federation, Francisco Egas, presented a different version. In an interview on Tuesday (3), he assured that all actions took place with Flamengo's knowledge. “Beccacece spoke with everyone at Flamengo. We are treating everything responsibly. We would be crazy to risk a player who is not fit . We did everything with respect,” he declared.
Mengão goes to Arena Fonte Nova this Sunday (5) to face Tricolor in the 27th round of the Brasileirão seeking to remain in the lead
05 Out 2025 | 14:00 |
Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (05), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), to face Bahia, at Arena Fonte Nova , in Salvador. The duel is valid for the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship and will be broadcast exclusively by Premiere (pay-per-view).
The Rubro-Negro faces the Tricolor with some important absences : Erick Pulgar remains out for physical reconditioning after recovering from a fifth metatarsal injury in his right foot. The midfielder is only expected to return after the next FIFA International Matchday.
Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro are suspended after receiving their third yellow card in the draw with Cruzeiro on Thursday (02). Saúl Ñíguez felt pain in his left ankle and did not travel to Salvador , being preserved by the technical committee.
Coach Rogério Ceni will need to be creative when putting together a team against Flamengo . Bahia has 13 players out due to injuries and suspensions:
Bahia (Rogerio Ceni): Ronaldo; Gilberto, Fredi, Rezende and Ze Guilherme; Acevedo, Jean Lucas and Everton Ribeiro; Kayky, Iago Borduchi (Michel Araujo) and Willian Jose.
Flamengo (Filipe Luis): Rossi; Varela, Danilo, Leo Ortiz and Ayrton Lucas; De la Cruz (Allan), Jorginho and Arrascaeta; Plata (Carrascal), Samuel Lino (Everton Cebolinha) and Pedro.
Mengão will go to Arena Fonte Nova to face the tricolor, which has a lot of absences for the clash in the 27th round of the competition.
05 Out 2025 | 13:00 |
Bahia held its last training session this Saturday morning (4) before the match against Flamengo , in the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship. The preparation, which lasted two days, ended with tactical work led by Rogério Ceni , while the defensive sector underwent specific activities under the guidance of assistant Nelson Simões.
The Tricolor coach faces a long list of 12 absences, including suspensions and players sent to the medical department. On the other hand, the coach received two pieces of good news: the return of Acevedo after serving a suspension, and the possible early return of defender David Duarte, who trained with the squad and may be included earlier than expected. His return was scheduled for after the FIFA international break.
If David Duarte is released, he will form a central defensive partnership with Rezende. Otherwise, Fredi Lippert is expected to fill the role . The main offensive doubt is on the left side of the attack, where Iago Borduchi, Michel Araújo, Cauly, and Tiago are competing for the suspended Sanabria's spot.
Bahia's likely lineup is: Ronaldo; Gilberto, David Duarte (or Fredi), Rezende and Zé Guilherme; Acevedo, Jean Lucas and Everton Ribeiro ; Kayky, Iago Borduchi (Michel Araújo, Tiago or Cauly) and Willian José.
Bahia and Flamengo face each other this Sunday (5), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at the Arena Fonte Nova Betting House, in Salvador . Tricolor comes from a defeat in the Brasileirão and needs to win to stay close to the G-4 and remain within the classification zone for the Libertadores, since São Paulo appears only two points behind in the table.
Mengão faces Tricolor this Sunday (5) in the 27th round of the competition aiming to maintain its leadership before the FIFA Date
05 Out 2025 | 12:00 |
Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (5) to face Bahia, in the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship. The ball rolls at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Arena Fonte Nova, in Salvador. The confrontation, however, will not be broadcast on Globo on open TV . The match will be broadcast exclusively by Premiere, on pay-per-view, for all of Brazil.
Coach Filipe Luís should send onto the field a Flamengo team with: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Danilo and Ayrton Lucas; De La Cruz (Allan), Jorginho and Arrascaeta; Plata (Carrascal), Samuel Lino (Everton Cebolinha) and Pedro (Bruno Henrique).
On the other side, Rogério Ceni faces a series of squad problems. Bahia has 12 absences and will need to improvise in some areas. The likely starting lineup includes : Ronaldo; Gilberto, David Duarte (Fredi), Rezende, and Zé Guilherme; Acevedo, Jean Lucas, and Everton Ribeiro; Kayky, Iago Borduchi (Michel Araújo, Tiago, or Cauly), and Willian José.
Flamengo midfielder Saúl felt pain in his left ankle and is out of the match . Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro are also serving suspensions and will also be out. Pulgar, who is recovering from a broken foot, remains unavailable.
Bahia, meanwhile, is suffering from 12 absences . The good news for Ceni is the return of Acevedo, who returns from suspension, and the possible return of David Duarte, who trained with the squad and may return early—his return was only scheduled after the FIFA International Day.
Bahia's absences: Luciano Juba, Gabriel Xavier, Santi Arias, Sanabria and Rodrigo Nestor (suspended); Erick, Ruan Pablo and Caio Alexandre (transition); Kanu (physical reconditioning); João Paulo, Ramos Mingo and Erick Pulga (injured).