TITE EQUALS LUXEMBOURG AND SURPASSES MURICY RAMALHO IN IMPORTANT MARK AT LIBERTADORES

Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (1), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), to face Fortaleza at Maracanã, for the 11th round of the Brasileirão. However, coach Filipe Luís will have to deal with difficulties in assembling the starting team. Two key players remain out due to injury, while two others return after a long period away.

Midfielders Nicolás De La Cruz and Gonzalo Plata are out of the match against Fortaleza. The Uruguayan is still treating a sprained left knee, while the Ecuadorian forward is suffering from bone edema in the same region. Plata's situation has caused friction between Flamengo and the Ecuadorian national team , due to the call-up despite the injured player. Both are expected to be available only after the Super World Cup.

PULGAR AND VIÑA ARE BACK

Flamengo , on the other hand, will have reinforcements from Erick Pulgar and Matías Viña . The Chilean midfielder has recovered from a muscle injury in his thigh and is listed after five games out. The Uruguayan full-back has been cleared to play a few minutes after recovering from a serious knee and tibia injury suffered in August last year. Despite their return, both players are expected to start the match on the bench.

With the absences and returns, Filipe Luís is still evaluating options to form the starting team. Everton Araújo or Allan are competing for a spot in the middle alongside Gerson , while Luiz Araújo should be chosen for the right wing . In the attack, there is uncertainty between Cebolinha and Michael, in addition to the dispute between Pedro and Bruno Henrique in the offensive reference.

FLAMENGO SEEKS VICTORY

The match against Fortaleza could define the future of the red-black team in the table. With 20 points, Flamengo needs to win and hope that Palmeiras stumbles to regain the lead. It is worth noting that Erick Pulgar has two yellow cards and, if he receives another one, he will not be able to play against São Paulo after the World Cup.

This Sunday (1), at 6:30 pm , Flamengo takes to the field at Maracanã to face Fortaleza , in a match valid for the 11th round of the Brazilian Championship. The red-black team is looking for three points to try to retake the lead in the competition, which is currently in the hands of Bragantino. The duel takes place a few days before the club's debut in the Super World Cup.

Since it will be played at 6:30 p.m., this Sunday's match will not be broadcast on free-to-air TV. Therefore, the only channel available to watch the match will be Premiere , a pay-per-view service from Globo channels, which holds the broadcast rights to the national competition.

FILIPE LUÍS WILL HAVE IMPORTANT REINFORCEMENTS

Coach Filipe Luís will have Erick Pulgar and Matías Viña back , both recovered from injury and already reintegrated into the main squad. On the other hand, the red-black commander will still be without Nico De La Cruz and Gonzalo Plata , who are still under medical care. The final preparation for the match was completed on Saturday (31), with the definition of the probable lineup.

With 20 points, Flamengo currently occupies third place in the Brasileirão table . In order to retake the lead, in addition to beating Fortaleza at Maracanã, it will be necessary to hope for a stumble by Palmeiras against Cruzeiro, a match that takes place at 7:30 pm at Mineirão. The team from Ceará appears to be in a delicate situation: with 10 points, it is just one place above the relegation zone.

FLAMENGO SEEKS TO REGAIN LEADERSHIP

Flamengo 's mission will be to secure victory in front of their fans to remain firm in the fight for the top spot in Série A. The direct clash with Fortaleza, marked by opposing contexts in the table, could prove decisive for the red-blacks' plans in the next rounds of the national championship.

Flamengo won another Copa do Brasil last year, but there are still players and former Corinthians players resentful about the runner-up position for Mais Querido in 2022. That's because striker Róger Guedes opened up about the defeat to Rubro-Negro.

In an appearance on the Bola da Vez program on ESPN, Róger Guedes spoke about the match against Flamengo in the Copa do Brasil final in 2022. He says he was able to feel that winning for Corinthians is different. However, he was unable to win any titles with the São Paulo team.

Really, I could feel that taste...

" It really gets to me. Like most of the Corinthians people said. Winning there is different from winning in other places. I really felt that taste, even though I didn't win. You can feel that it's different there ," begins Róger Guedes.

RÓGER GUEDES TALKS ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE DRESSING ROOM AFTER VICE

Soon after, Róger Guedes became emotional when he recalled the players' lament in the locker room. The player did not hide his annoyance at Flamengo's runner-up finish in the Copa do Brasil.

" I was very upset. After the game, we even stayed in our room talking, lamenting. We were absolutely certain that we would win the game, because of everything we had been through this year. Personally, for me, it would be a great relief to win with him, with Vitor Pereira himself, after everything I had been through, " says Róger Guedes.

FLAMENGO IS THE FIFTH BRAZILIAN CUP WINNER

While Róger Guedes continues to lament the runner-up finish, Flamengo reached the final of the competition in 2024 and beat Atlético-MG in both final matches, thus becoming five-time champions of the Copa do Brasil.