Soccer

Urgent: Flamengo has an important absence for the duel against Cruzeiro

Ecuadorian striker feels pain in his knee and will not face the Minas Gerais team this Sunday; Mengão holds 100% of the player's rights

Gonzalo Plata is out of the match between Flamengo and Cruzeiro after knee discomfort detected before the duel at Mineirão - photo: reproduction
Gonzalo Plata is out of the match between Flamengo and Cruzeiro after knee discomfort detected before the duel at Mineirão - photo: reproduction

03 Mai 2025 | 14:47 |

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Striker Gonzalo Plata will be an important absence in Flamengo's squad for the match against Cruzeiro , valid for the seventh round of the Brazilian Championship. The match takes place this Sunday (04), at 6:30 pm, at the Mineirão stadium . According to journalist Venê Casagrande, the Ecuadorian player felt muscle discomfort and was not included in the duel.


Even before the match against LDU, held on April 22, Plata was diagnosed with a slight bone edema in his right knee. Despite this, he managed to play in the following matches, against Corinthians and Botafogo-PB. However, on the eve of this weekend's game, the forward reported new pain in the region and was vetoed by the coaching staff.


FLAMENGO INVESTED A LOT


The Ecuadorian player had half of his economic rights acquired from Al Sadd, from Qatar, in August 2024, for 4.1 million dollars (R$ 23.3 million at the time) . With the mandatory purchase clause linked to playing time , the Rio de Janeiro club had to pay another R$ 29 million to secure all of the rights after Plata surpassed 1,500 minutes on the field.

Despite the absence, coach Filipe Luís led the last training session this Saturday and defined the team that will take the field against Cruzeiro. The team is looking to maintain its regularity in the Brasileirão and remain at the top of the table. The match will take place at Mineirão, at 6:30 pm, with live broadcast for all of Brazil.


FLAMENGO AIMS FOR GOOD RESULTS

Flamengo 's squad enters the field under pressure from a sequence of good performances to consolidate their campaign in the national championship. Even without the Ecuadorian striker available, Rubro-Negro trusts in the strength of the squad to overcome the Minas Gerais team away from home and remain firm in the fight for the lead.


Soccer

Flamengo defeats Estudiantes and takes advantage in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores

Mengão takes victory to the return game against the Argentines that takes place on the 25th, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at the Jorge Luis Hirschi stadium

Flamengo beat Estudiantes at Maracanã and takes advantage of the return leg of the Libertadores - photo: reproduction
Flamengo beat Estudiantes at Maracanã and takes advantage of the return leg of the Libertadores - photo: reproduction

18 Set 2025 | 23:24 |

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Flamengo defeated Argentina's Estudiantes 2-1 at the Maracanã Stadium . The red-and-black team decided the match in the first half with goals from Pedro and Varela. Mengão gave Estudiantes no time to breathe in Rio de Janeiro with a lightning goal.


Just 15 seconds in, Pedro capitalized on a pass from Plata, turned on his marker, and fired a left-footed shot to open the scoring. The quick goal undermined Argentina's strategy and galvanized the Rio de Janeiro team, who continued to press. A few minutes later, Ayrton Lucas crossed from the left and Varela hit a beautiful volley into Muslera's corner, extending the red-and-blacks' lead in the first half.


RED-BLACK DOMINATION


Even with a two-goal lead, Flamengo maintained control and nearly made it three with Pedro, whose shot was spectacularly saved by the Uruguayan goalkeeper. Estudiantes , for their part, barely threatened Rossi's goal and only managed to partially level the score in the final minutes of the first half . The feeling at Maracanã was that the 2-0 scoreline was a cheap one for the visitors.

SECOND HOT WEATHER


In the second half, the pace dropped. Coach Eduardo Domínguez made substitutions, trying to give the Argentine team more momentum, but he ran into the red-and-black defense. The match was not without its tense moments, with cards for Saúl, Samuel Lino, and Alexis Castro, and Plata's sending-off after a second yellow card in a dispute with Facundo Rodríguez . At the end of the second half, Estudiantes scored in the 46th minute to leave the match open in Argentina.

NEXT COMMITMENTS

With the 2-1 victory, Flamengo takes the lead in the quarterfinals of the Libertadores. The return leg is scheduled for the 25th, at 9:30 pm, at the Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium, in Argentina. Before that, the team led by Tite faces Vasco next Sunday (21), for the Brazilian Championship, again at Maracanã.


Soccer

Pedro surpasses Paquetá's 'surreal' record at Flamengo and makes history

Striker scores after 14 seconds against Estudiantes, surpassing the records of former players and consolidating himself as one of the club's top scorers

Pedro scores after 14 seconds, scoring the fastest goal in Flamengo's history in the Libertadores and breaking records at Maracanã - photo: reproduction
Pedro scores after 14 seconds, scoring the fastest goal in Flamengo's history in the Libertadores and breaking records at Maracanã - photo: reproduction

18 Set 2025 | 22:53 |

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Forward Pedro needed just 14 seconds to open the scoring for Flamengo against Estudiantes in a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal match. The lightning strike became the Rubro-Negro's fastest goal in the competition's history , surpassing Gerson's record and also surpassing Lucas Paquetá's historic mark, which held the club's fastest goal in an official match.


Until then, Flamengo 's fastest goal in the Libertadores was Gerson's, who had scored after 56 seconds against Bolívar, in 2024. Even so, in the current edition of the tournament, Pedro's goal was the second fastest overall , behind only Artur's goal, from Botafogo, which shook the net against LDU after 13 seconds in the round of 16.


PEDRO'S NUMBERS FOR FLAMENGO


293 games

148 goals


35 assists

BOARD PLANS RENEWALS

According to an investigation by Gazeta do Urubu, the club's board intends to renew the contracts of Filipe Luís and Arrascaeta in 2025. Pedro and goalkeeper Rossi are expected to have their contracts extended next season. Internally, there's no sign of the striker's dissatisfaction with the club.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME

After beating Estudiantes at Maracanã this Thursday (18), Mengão faces Vasco next Sunday (21), for the Brazilian Championship. The match takes place again at the Rio de Janeiro team's stadium.


Soccer

Pedro scores historic goal in Flamengo vs Estudiantes match

The striker opens the scoring against Estudiantes at a packed Maracanã stadium, reaching his 150th goal in the red and black jersey and consolidating an important milestone in the Libertadores Cup

Pedro scores after 15 seconds against Estudiantes, reaching 150 goals for Flamengo and becoming a historic highlight in the Libertadores - photo: reproduction
Pedro scores after 15 seconds against Estudiantes, reaching 150 goals for Flamengo and becoming a historic highlight in the Libertadores - photo: reproduction

18 Set 2025 | 22:37 |

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Flamengo won an important chapter this Wednesday (18), in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores . After just 15 seconds, Pedro scored against Estudiantes at a packed Maracanã, opening the scoring for the Rio de Janeiro team. The goal not only guaranteed an initial advantage in the duel but also marked the striker's 150th goal with the red-black shirt , equaling Bebeto in eighth place among the greatest scorers in the club's history.


The goal against Argentina also represented Pedro's 26th for Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores, a figure that puts him behind only Gabigol, with 30 goals, in the club's all-time rankings in the tournament . Furthermore, the number 9 became the third-highest Brazilian scorer in the continental competition.


PEDRO'S GENERAL NUMBERS FOR FLAMENGO
  • 293 games
  • 150 goals
  • 35 assists
PEDRO'S PERFORMANCE IN THE SEASON
  • 30 games
  • 13 goals
  • 5 assists
FLAMENGO BOARD WANTS TO RENEW


According to information obtained by Gazeta do Urubu, the club's management intends to renew the contracts of Filipe Luís and Arrascaeta in 2025. Pedro and goalkeeper Rossi are expected to have their contracts extended next season . Internally, there is no dissatisfaction surrounding the number 9.


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