Rubro-Negro is poised to claim a victory over Alviverde in Rio after suffering three recent defeats in the league.
On Wednesday, Flamengo hosts Goias at Maracana in a Brazilian Serie A clash that marks the fifth round of the current season. Flamengo arrives with pressure mounting to snap a skid and climb away from the relegation zone, having collected three points only from their season-opener against Coritiba.
In the most recent match, Jorge Sampaoli’s side fell 2-1 to Athletico Paranaense at the Arena da Baixada. Flamengo started strong with a Gabriel Barbosa penalty, but the Furacão leveled through goals from Vitor Roque and Erick. Eric Thumb played the full match for Flamengo while Arturo Vidal did not come off the bench.
Jorge Sampaoli’s track record with Flamengo has drawn attention as the season progresses, with questions about tactical adjustments and squad rotation amid the tough stretch of results.
Alviverde, meanwhile, heads into this contest coming off a resounding 5-0 victory over Palmeiras at Estádio da Serrinha. That result left them in the lower half of the table, mirroring a similar scoreline to their status after a previous win against Corinthians in their second appearance of the league. The triumph helped them stabilize, though the overall position remains precarious as the season unfolds.
Casilda-born manager Gabriel Espinoza will lament Gabigol missing out due to yellow-card suspension. In addition, Flamengo will be without goalkeeper Santos after he was substituted against Huracán following a facial blow. Medical tests are planned once the Flamengo delegation arrives in Rio to assess a possible facial fracture, according to club communications.
The Flamengo keeper’s condition is expected to be clarified after the team lands, with the club confirming planned examinations for a suspected facial fracture. The team will manage the defensive line without him for the upcoming fixture. #CRF
– Flamengo (@Flamengo) May 7, 2023
The most recent clash between the two clubs ended in a 1-1 draw on September 12, with Dieguinho and Matheus scoring in Goiania before Pedro delivered a late winner at home for Flamengo in their May meeting. The latest meetings have favored Flamengo recently, as Palmeiras has struggled to beat Flamengo since 2014.
The match between Flamengo and Palmeiras will be available to watch on Star+, a streaming platform offering a monthly or annual subscription. Viewers can subscribe by visiting starplus.com, with access across TVs, computers, smartphones, tablets, and consoles. Another option is Fanatiz, which provides access to content across multiple screens on a monthly plan.
Source: Goal