IT'S GOING TO BE GAME! RECENT RETROSPECT BETWEEN FLAMENGO AND FLUMINENSE SHOWS BALANCE BETWEEN THE TEAMS

Tite defined Flamengo and announced the 11 starters who will face Peñarol, this Thursday, at Maracanã, at 7pm. De la Cruz returns to the starting lineup in place of Léo Ortiz, and Alex Sandro and Plata were retained. The duel with the Uruguayans is the first between the teams in the quarter-finals of the Copa Conmebol Libertadores. Follow the Red and Black lineup:Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Pulgar, De la Cruz, Gerson and Arrascaeta; Plata and Bruno Henrique.

Alex Sandro and Plata, debutants in last Sunday's classic, remain in the team after having good performances in the draw against Vasco. Gabigol is now out of the relationship due to fibrosis in the posterior muscle of his right thigh. Flamengo, in a statement, reported that the athlete did not suffer any injury in the region. Check it out:

"The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo informs that the athlete Gabriel Barbosa underwent tests that did not diagnose an injury to the posterior muscle of his right thigh. However, the Technical Committee opted for precaution and did not list him for the duel against Peñarol due to fibrosis in the region. Gabi is handed over to physiotherapists and physical trainers for the series of decisive games of the season."

Flamengo faces Peñarol (URU) in the first game of the CONMEBOL Libertadores quarter-finals and, here, you can watch the broadcast, live, with 2h30 of pre-game, interviews, the team's arrival at Maracanã and everything more.

Follow the match live here:

With a goal from Pedro, Flamengo beat Fluminense 1-0, in a game valid for the 11th round of the Brazilian Championship. And it was precisely the scorer of the winning goal who participated in 'Resenha do Jogo', a FlaTV section that interviews the highlight of the match.

Pedro also commented on his impressions of Flamengo's general performance, praising the Rubro-Negro sectors and explained how the team managed to defeat Fluminense, who had no chance in the match.

“We did very well at the beginning, we managed to maintain the pressure, the game We had very good marking throughout. From the attack, with me, Lorran, Bruno Henrique, Luiz Araújo and Gerson, the pressure on the way out. We know what Fluminense does every game, they try to come out playing, there's quality there, but I think we did very well in that regard. We also managed to create, stealing the ball and setting up quickly. But the lesson we have to learn is to get more out of finishing in the last third, in the last pass or finish. Seek evolution to kill the game. In the classic, you have to take advantage of opportunities, but thank God, the team was very good. The work during the week, and that's it, was very good, it was 1-0, but the important thing was the three points in a classic that is always very complicated to play”, he pointed out, before highlighting other positive aspects of Mengo's performance. :

“As I said, we managed to put pressure on. Fluminense had possession, but couldn't reach the final third of our team, it's our credit. Since Rossi, the midfielders who provide support, offensive balance, are a team. A job during the week, Professor Tite studies for us to do in the field, this makes it easier for us. Whoever enters the second half knows what to do, that makes it easier. It's the squad, the group that won the classic.

With Pedro's goal, Flamengo secured the victory, reached 24 points in 11 games and remained at the top of the Brasileirão table. With a strong mentality and a united squad, Rubro-Negro is trying to maintain first place, and the striker commented on the difficulties in remaining in contention for the Brazilian Championship.

“It's not easy. Normally, whoever is in the lead is the team to beat, everyone is looking at that team. But, it’s about thinking about us, about our work, about our evolution each week, so as not to relax. Seek victory in each game. The Brazilian Championship is not easy, each round is difficult, but it is playing against Juventude focused on what they have to do and looking for victory”, he added.

Flamengo returns to the field on Wednesday (26 ), to face Juventude, at the Alfredo Jaconi Stadium. The match, valid for the 12th round of the Brazilian Championship, will be played at 8pm (Brasília time).