Despite returning from injury, Lucas Paquetá showed his decisive power by scoring Flamengo’s goal against Cruzeiro, leaving the qualification battle open in the Libertadores.
Lucas Paquetá‘s performance in the 1-1 draw between Flamengo and Cruzeiro, valid for the first leg of the Libertadores round of 16, reaffirmed the midfielder’s importance to the Rio de Janeiro team.
Coming off the bench at the Mineirão stadium, the player needed only a few minutes to find the back of the net and secure a crucial result for the return leg at the Maracanã.
The goal scored in Belo Horizonte marks the third time Paquetá has scored in just five games in this edition of the continental competition.
This number reinforces the player’s impact on the squad, especially at a decisive moment of the season, where the Rubro-Negro (Red-and-Black) seeks to advance to the quarterfinals.
Physical Recovery Process
The presence of the number 20 jersey on the field was a timely boost, as he had been sidelined for five weeks due to an injury. Because of this inactivity, the coach opted to keep him among the reserves.
After the match, the player celebrated the opportunity to help the team in such a delicate moment of the confrontation.
I’m extremely happy to be able to play and help Flamengo. Today, with an important goal, we achieved a draw that allows us to decide at home, in front of our fans. We have to keep working to advance to the next round.
The midfielder declared to the M360 Team.
Ideal Rhythm for the Decider
Despite being decisive, Paquetá was transparent in assessing his current physical condition. The player admitted that the lack of match rhythm after the recovery period is still a challenge, but he anticipates a rapid improvement for the next match against the Minas Gerais team.
Paquetá stated:
I’m coming back from being sidelined for five weeks. It’s a bit difficult to immediately regain peak form, but with another week of training, I believe I’ll be ready to reach my 100%.
With the expectation that he will reach better physical condition in the coming days, Flamengo fans are hopeful of seeing the midfielder start in the decisive match.
At the Maracanã, the Rio de Janeiro team will need Paquetá‘s technical prowess to confirm their qualification and keep alive their dream of winning the Libertadores title.
