As they prepare for a decisive Libertadores duel against Flamengo, Cruzeiro faces a critical situation with new injuries confirmed within the squad.
Flamengo remains focused in its pursuit of a second consecutive Copa Libertadores title in 2026. To advance to the quarterfinals, the Rubro-Negro will face Cruzeiro, but the Minas Gerais club heads into the matchup with serious issues in its attacking department.
The list of concerns for manager Artur Jorge grew significantly this Sunday (26). During the match against Botafogo, forward Luis Sinisterra felt sharp pain in his right hamstring. The Colombian left the pitch in tears and had to be taken off on a stretcher, creating a tense atmosphere. The player is expected to undergo detailed medical examinations this Monday (27) to determine the severity of the injury.
Squad depth crisis for the Minas Gerais side
The injury woes do not end there. Cruzeiro had already confirmed the absence of forward Gabriel Pec for the clashes against the Rio de Janeiro side. The player suffered a fractured left tibia during the match against Internacional on the 22nd and underwent surgery, ruling him out for an extended period.
In a press conference, Artur Jorge did not hide his frustration regarding the team’s current situation:
“I have my reality and my expectations. We had Sinisterra and Fabrício (Bruno), who asked to be subbed off. It will never serve as an excuse, but it is a reality. We become less competitive. We have fewer options and solutions,”stated the manager, acknowledging that losing key players limits the team’s ability to react.
Decisive Libertadores schedule
The Round of 16 matchup between Flamengo and Cruzeiro promises to be intense. The first leg is scheduled for August 12 at 9:30 PM at the Mineirão. The second leg, which will decide who moves on in the competition, will take place on August 19 at the same time at the Maracanã.
The Rubro-Negro enters the series with momentum, boasting the best record in the group stage, having finished as the sole leader of Group A with 16 points. Meanwhile, Cruzeiro, who finished second in Group D with 11 points, faces the challenge of securing a positive result against a Flamengo side that will have the massive support of its home crowd for the decisive second leg.
