Vinícius Júnior is seen wearing a Flamengo shirt while off duty and reinforces his bond with Mengão

The clash between Flamengo and Grêmio , scheduled for this Sunday (31), at 4 pm, at Maracanã, for the Brazilian Championship, will be conducted by Paulo Zanovelli . The 35-year-old referee from Minas Gerais is refereeing a game for the Mais Querido for the second time this season . In the first opportunity, against Mirassol, his performance generated criticism due to the excessive stoppages.

In that match, 36 fouls were called, 23 committed by the Red-Blacks and 13 by the opponents. The referee's style worries fans and experts, as the match could lose intensity and effective ball play.

PAULO ZANOVELLI'S ARBITRATION STYLE

The numbers confirm the trend. In 12 Brasileirão 2025 matches, Zanovelli called 362 fouls, an average of 30.17 fouls per match. This rate is considered high, especially compared to the Premier League , where the average is around 20 fouls per game.

Despite this, the issuing of cards hasn't kept pace with the same intensity. The referee has handed out 54 yellow cards so far, resulting in an average of 4.5 warnings per game , within the national league standard.

EXPECTATION OF A FULL HOUSE

Maracanã is preparing for a big party next Sunday (30). With all tickets sold out, the expectation is for more than 60 thousand people present at the stadium . The Nation will be in force after the great 8-0 victory over the victory in the last round.

Grêmio continued its work this Thursday (28) with an eye on the match against Flamengo, scheduled for Sunday (31), at 4 pm, at Maracanã, for the Brazilian Championship. The activity was attended by Arthur, officially announced as a tricolor reinforcement on the same day.

The players participated in training sessions focused on physical conditioning , as well as exercises on a reduced field with a focus on tactics. The squad will also have two more training sessions before the trip to Rio de Janeiro, scheduled for Saturday afternoon (30).

ARTHUR TRAINS WITH THE CAST

Although already integrated into the activities led by Mano Menezes, Arthur is not expected to play at Maracanã. The midfielder has not played since May, when he was still playing for Girona in Spain , and needs to regain competitive rhythm.

Furthermore, his registration for the CBF's Daily Information Bulletin (BID) has not yet been completed , which makes it impossible for him to play against the Mais Querido in this round of the Brasileirão. Therefore, the player will likely miss Sunday's game.

EXPECTED RE-PREMIERE DATE

Arthur is expected to return to the Tricolor jersey after the FIFA break. His debut is expected to take place on September 13th, against Mirassol, at 4 pm, at Arena do Grêmio in Porto Alegre . The match will be part of the Brazilian Championship and should mark the player's official return to the club that developed him.

The clash between Flamengo and Grêmio, this Sunday (31), at 4 pm, at Maracanã, will be special for the red-black fans. In addition to its importance in the Brazilian Championship table, the match marks the beginning of the partnership between the Rio de Janeiro club and Betano, the new master sponsor , in a contract valid until the end of 2028.

"Through our partnership with Betano, we'll intensify this synergy between Flamengo and its fans," said Guilherme Figueiredo, the company's commercial director in Brazil. He also emphasized that the debut will be accompanied by special actions starting with this first game: " Now we're part of this, and we want the Flamengo fans' experience to be truly special. The first major example will be this Sunday, in the Brasileirão."

RETURN OF THE YOUNG FANS

Another highlight of the game will be the official return of Torcida Jovem to the stadium . The organized group had been away from the stands since March 2023 due to a suspension, and will once again be able to support the team from the Maracanã stands.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the uniformed player thanked the club's president, Luiz Eduardo Baptista (BAP), for his commitment to facilitating the group's return. The statement also highlighted BAP's work in leading the Mais Querido, praising his attitude toward the fans and his management of institutional issues.

EXPECTATION OF A FULL HOUSE

With the return of Torcida Jovem and the debut of the new partnership on the uniform, Maracanã is expected to welcome a large crowd. All tickets have already sold out, and an attendance of over 60,000 is expected.

SOUZA CAVEIRÃO MAKES SPECIAL INVITATION