Flamengo travels to Belo Horizonte for the first leg of the Libertadores Round of 16, but coach Leonardo Jardim will have to overcome four significant absences from the squad.
Expectations are high for the start of the Rubro-Negro’s journey in the knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores. This Wednesday (12), Flamengo will face Cruzeiro at the Mineirão stadium in a match that promises to be a stern test for the Rio de Janeiro team right at the opening of the continental competition’s Round of 16.
Before heading to the capital of Minas Gerais, the club from Gávea officially announced the list of players available for the commitment. Among the confirmed names, the return of De La Cruz stands out, as he served a suspension in the last Campeonato Brasileiro match against Vitória and is once again available to the coaching staff.
Confirmed Squad Absences
Despite the positive news, coach Leonardo Jardim faces a scenario with several absences. A total of four players did not travel with the delegation due to physical or health issues.
Alex Sandro, suffering from pain in his right calf, was ruled out by the medical department, as was Everton Cebolinha, who is experiencing flu-like symptoms.
In addition to them, the club continues to monitor the recovery of Luiz Araújo, still in transition after a knee injury, and defender Vitão, who is treating a muscular problem in his left thigh. As investigated by Equipe M360, the club is being cautious with the transition processes to avoid relapses.
Equipe M360 stated:
Squad management in decisive phases of the season requires precision. The focus is on maintaining competitiveness even with important players recovering.
Match Projection
For the duel at the Mineirão, Flamengo‘s probable lineup includes: Rossi; Emerson Royal (or Guillermo Varela), Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Ayrton Lucas; Pulgar, Jorginho, and Arrascaeta; Carrascal, Pedro, and Samuel Lino.
The decisive match will take place at 9:30 PM (Brasília time). Fans can follow all the action through the broadcasts on TV Globo, GE TV, and Paramount+.
The result of this first encounter will be crucial for the second leg, determining who will have the advantage in the race for a spot in the Libertadores quarterfinals.
