Bruno Henrique, Flamengo forward, is a concern for the coaching staff and is now a doubt for the decisive clash against Cruzeiro in the Libertadores round of 16.
Flamengo is experiencing a period of apprehension behind the scenes ahead of the return leg of the Libertadores round of 16. Forward Bruno Henrique has become a significant doubt for the matchup against Cruzeiro, scheduled for next Wednesday (August 19), after suffering a hard tackle in the first leg, played at Mineirão stadium.
The player, who is still experiencing significant ankle pain, had to be rested and did not participate in Saturday’s training session. According to information from the M360 Team, the athlete will undergo further medical evaluations in Rio de Janeiro to determine if he will be fit to play at the Maracanã stadium.
Controversy with Refereeing
The injury occurred in the first half of the first game, when the score was still 0-0. Cruzeiro’s defensive midfielder Matheus Henrique struck the Flamengo No. 27’s ankle with the studs of his boot. At the time, referee Yael Falcón Pérez only showed a yellow card, a decision upheld by the VAR, operated by Héctor Paletta, who did not suggest a review of the play.
In an interview in the mixed zone, the forward expressed strong indignation with the stance of the officiating crew and the video assistant referee:
“The doctor evaluated me, I will be evaluated again in Rio. A lot of pain. What bothers me is that the VAR didn’t call the referee. He said it was a normal tackle, not intense, and that was it. Now I’m the one suffering.”
Scenario for the Return Leg
For coach Leonardo Jardim, the situation is one of total alert. In addition to the uncertainty surrounding Bruno Henrique, the Flamengo manager is dealing with the doubtful status of Everton Cebolinha and Luiz Araújo. To make matters worse, defender Alex Sandro has already been confirmed as unavailable for the decisive match.
Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, both Flamengo and Cruzeiro need a simple victory to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the continental competition. Any further draw will send the decision to penalties, further increasing the importance of having a full squad for the clash on Rio de Janeiro soil.
