Flamengo Faces Key Absences Ahead of Crucial Match Against Fluminense

The Flamengo football club is preparing to face significant challenges ahead of their classic match against Fluminense on Thursday, at 20:00 Brasília time, at Maracanã Stadium. This match is part of the 30th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. Several key players will be absent from the game due to injuries and strategic resting decisions.

Among those missing will be Gerson, Erick Pulgar, and De la Cruz. Gerson participated fully in Brazil’s recent match, while Pulgar played nearly the entire game for Chile. Due to fatigue, both will be rested for Thursday’s fixture. Despite expressing readiness to play, Gerson has admitted to discomfort in his finger, which influenced the decision to sit him out.

Uruguayan player De la Cruz will also miss the game, as management prioritizes his fitness for the upcoming Copa do Brasil semi-final. Despite only playing 45 minutes in his national team’s last game, De la Cruz has been experiencing high levels of physical exhaustion in recent months.

Arrascaeta and Gonzalo Plata are expected to be available for the game, although they will start from the bench due to their own fatigue issues. They are anticipated to step in only if necessary. The club will further evaluate Varela‘s condition on Thursday to determine his availability.

Flamengo’s expected lineup is Rossi, Wesley, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira, and Alex Sandro; Allan, Léo Ortiz, and Alcaraz; Michael (or Matheus Gonçalves), Bruno Henrique, and Gabigol. Head coach Filipe Luís emphasizes flexibility, indicating that final decisions on the lineup will be made on the day of the match itself. Michael, Alcaraz, and Allan might see opportunities to start, as Léo Ortiz could be shifted to a midfield role, potentially allowing Fabrício Bruno to take his position in defense.

These lineup changes were initially reported by ‘ge‘, a Brazilian sports news outlet, and later confirmed by UOL. It was noted that Pulgar was absent from Flamengo’s training center, Ninho do Urubu, on Wednesday as he returned from Colombia on a regular flight, thus missing the session. Meanwhile, the rest of the team members have undergone a reassessment to determine their readiness for the match.