YOU WILL BE INDICTED! STJD WARNS THAT EX-FLAMENGO FILIPE MELO WILL RESPOND FOR AGGRESSION LAST SATURDAY - CHECK OUT HERE

Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (31), at 4 pm (Brasília time), to face Grêmio, at Maracanã, for the 22nd round of the Brazilian Championship. Coach Filipe Luís will not be able to count on two players and is still uncertain about the use of an important piece in the midfield.

PULGAR AND ALEX SANDRO ARE CONFIRMED OUTAGES

Having been out of action for weeks, Erick Pulgar continues to recover from surgery on the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, which was performed in early July. The Chilean midfielder is expected to return to training only in the second half of September . At left back, Alex Sandro is confirmed to be absent. The defender suffered an injury to his left calf, diagnosed during an examination last Tuesday (26). The player began treatment immediately, but is out of the duel against the Gauchos.

JORGINHO IS THE MAIN DOUBT

Midfielder Jorginho, considered a key player in the midfield, is a concern for the club's medical department. Over the past two days, the player has not participated in field activities, limiting himself to gym work due to thigh pain . The decision on his use will be made during training this Saturday (30), which will be decisive in determining whether he will be fit to face Grêmio.

AYRTON LUCAS AND VIÑA COMPETE FOR A SPOT ON THE LEFT

Without Alex Sandro, Filipe Luís has two options at left-back: Ayrton Lucas and Matías Viña. Both are available and competing for the position. With the exception of Pulgar and Alex Sandro , the rest of the red-and-black squad is available for the match.

WHERE TO WATCH FLAMENGO X GRÊMIO

Flamengo and Grêmio face off this Sunday (31), at 4 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, for the 22nd round of the Brasileirão. Rubro-Negro seeks to maintain its isolated lead in the competition and extend its good phase. The match will be broadcast by Globo (open TV) for almost all of Brazil and by Premiere (pay-per-view).

Guillermo Varela played in his first Copa América last year, but narrowly avoided being left out of coach Marcelo Bielsa's squad. The full-back, who recently renewed his contract with Flamengo , revealed that the Uruguayan national team coach considered leaving him out due to his playing style under Tite.

Varela on Tite at Flamengo: "He prioritized defense, he didn't let me pass"

"I almost missed the Copa América. One of the reasons was that the other coach who was here (at Flamengo , Tite) prioritized defense, not letting me play on the outside, leaving our winger one-on-one. And Marcelo (Bielsa) told me: 'You're not attacking, and I need full-backs who attack. And if you don't do what makes me happiest in a full-back, why are you going to play? '" the player said in an interview with the Uruguayan Football Federation.

The No. 2 also celebrated the change of scenery with Filipe Luís in charge. "That's what he asked of me. The idea of the current coach (Filipe Luís), who lets me do what I like, I prefer attacking a thousand times over defending , I'm like this and I believe that today we are all happy," he added.

URUGUAYAN BACK EXPERIENCES A NEW, MORE OFFENSIVE PHASE

Since arriving at Flamengo in 2022, Varela had made few offensive appearances. Until the end of last year, the full-back hadn't even provided an assist. The situation changed in 2025. In 38 matches this season, the Uruguayan has five decisive assists. The most recent came last Monday (25), when he delivered a precise cross for Samuel Lino's header , cementing his most prominent phase in attack.

VARELA SHOULD BE THE STARTER AGAINST GRÊMIO

Wesley's departure to Roma has opened up space for Varela to gain more playing time. Despite the signing of Emerson Royal, the Uruguayan remains the starting right-back. Therefore, Varela is expected to start this Sunday (31), when Flamengo hosts Grêmio at Maracanã, in the 22nd round of the Brasileirão. The match is scheduled for 4 pm (Brasília time).

Flamengo will enter the field this Sunday (1), at 4 pm (Brasília time) , at Maracanã, against Grêmio, for the 22nd round of the Brazilian Championship, with at least one confirmed change. Without Alex Sandro, who is recovering from injury, Ayrton Lucas should take over the starting position at left back.

Coach Filipe Luís 's main concern is in midfield. Defensive midfielder Jorginho, a key player since the Club World Cup debut, experienced muscle discomfort and did not train with the squad this week . He continues individual training at Ninho do Urubu and will be re-evaluated this Saturday, the final training session before the match.

If he isn't cleared by the medical department, the top options to fill his spot are Allan and Evertton Araújo , with De la Cruz a potential outsider. Chilean Pulgar remains sidelined and is unfit to play.

PROBABLE LINEUP

The likely Flamengo formation that coach Filipe Luís should field in the match against Grêmio is: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas; Allan (Jorginho), Saúl and Arrascaeta; Plata, Samuel Lino and Pedro.

BREAK IN THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

The Brasileirão's undisputed leader, Rubro-Negro, has 46 points, four more than second-place Palmeiras, who have a game in hand. After this round, the competition will be suspended for 13 days due to the FIFA International Day.