Scratches on Erick Pulgar‘s face draw attention after Flamengo‘s heroic qualification against Cruzeiro in the Libertadores.
Erick Pulgar‘s performance in Flamengo‘s victory over Cruzeiro last Wednesday (19) was marked by extreme intensity. The Chilean midfielder, a fundamental piece of the red-and-black’s tactical scheme, finished the match with his face visibly scarred by scratches. The athlete’s physical condition became one of the most discussed topics in the mixed zone at the Maracanã Stadium after the final whistle.
Although he was decisive in Mengão‘s qualification for the quarter-finals of the Libertadores, the number 5 preferred not to give interviews. The sight of the player passing through the press area with battle marks quickly went viral on social media, highlighting the midfielder’s level of commitment in a match that demanded significant physical exertion from both sides.
The Clash That Marked the Midfielder
The injury to Erick Pulgar‘s face is a reflection of an extremely physical confrontation. In added time of the second half, the Chilean was involved in a ball dispute with João Costa, resulting in a direct collision between the players. Before this incident, the midfielder had already been involved in tough duels with Gerson and Matheus Pereira, maintaining the combative posture that has solidified him as one of the pillars of Flamengo’s midfield.
Libertadores Journey
The 2-1 victory, with goals from Arrascaeta and Samuel Lino, secured the Rubro-Negro‘s qualification for the next stage. The club now awaits the determination of its quarter-final opponent, which will come from the clash between Independiente del Valle (ECU) and Tolima (COL). The team remains in contention for the continental trophy, maintaining the competitive level that has been the hallmark of this season.
Brazilian Serie A Sequence
Despite the marks left on the field, Erick Pulgar remains available to the coaching staff for the next commitment. Flamengo returns to action this Saturday (22), at 8:30 PM, to face Cruzeiro again, this time in the Brazilian Serie A, at the Mineirão Stadium.
Regarding the player’s relevance to the squad, the Equipe M360 highlights:
“Erick Pulgar is one of the pillars of this Flamengo team. When the Chilean was sidelined for a while, Evertton Araújo managed to fill the gap well. However, the number 5 brings an extra dynamic to the team, especially offensively. When Pulgar plays well, the whole team grows.”
The expectation is that the midfielder will start in Belo Horizonte, reinforcing the team’s defensive midfield in another important chapter of the red-and-black’s calendar.
Equipe M360
