Spanish newspaper praises Flamengo’s strength after historic Libertadores victory
Flamengo once again demonstrated its hegemony on the South American stage. Last Thursday (10), the Rubro-Negro secured a crucial 2-0 victory against Independiente del Valle (ECU), in a match valid for the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals. The feat, achieved at the challenging altitude of 2,850 meters in Quito, was widely highlighted by the renowned Spanish newspaper ‘As’.
Praise and international recognition
With the headline “The champion is a giant,” the European publication spared no praise for the performance of the team led by Leonardo Jardim. ‘As’ emphasized that Flamengo, the continental titleholder, solidifies itself as the team in best form in South America and took a significant step towards the tournament semifinals. The publication made a point of highlighting the quality and depth of the Rubro-Negro squad.
Depth and European level
The Spanish report drew attention to the fact that players like Lucas Paquetá, Gonzalo Plata, Pedro, and Varela entered the field coming from the bench. ‘As’ pointed out that these athletes, many of them called up for their national teams, possess a technical level capable of being starters not only in other South American clubs but also in various European football teams. This observation underscores the technical disparity that Flamengo displayed.
A victory with historic significance
On the field, Flamengo had to overcome the initial pressure from Independiente del Valle, which dominated the first half with ten shots. However, the Rubro-Negro defense remained solid. In the second half, the Rio de Janeiro team was lethal. Bruno Henrique opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Léo Pereira extended the lead in the 29th, sealing the victory and, as a bonus, ending the Ecuadorian team’s undefeated streak at their stadium in the current Libertadores edition.
Advantage for the second leg
With the favorable result, Flamengo secures a considerable advantage for the decisive second leg at the Maracanã, scheduled for next Thursday (17), at 9:30 PM. The Rio de Janeiro team can afford to lose by up to one goal and still secure qualification for the semifinals. Before focusing again on the Libertadores, the Rubro-Negro has a commitment in the Brazilian Championship against Corinthians, this Sunday (13), at the temple of football.
By Equipe M360
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