Flamengo welcomes Universidad Católica for Libertadores at Maracanã

After 12 days closed for the planting of winter grass, Maracanã will reopen this Tuesday (17), from 21:30 (Brasília time), for the game between Flamengo and Universidad Católica (Chile) for the 5th round of the Copa Libertadores groups.

The game, which is valid for Group H of the South American competition, can confirm the classification of the Carioca Rubro-Negro for the next phase of the competition.

Finished the preparation for the match against Universidad Católica by @LibertadoresBR. ✔️ #VamosFlamengo pic.twitter.com/FmuVEqMhx2

— Flamengo (@Flamengo) May 16, 2022

The team from Gávea is the leader of the group with 10 points, after three wins and a draw. Some players are still out of the team due to injury, such as goalkeepers Santos and Diego Alves, side Filipe Luís and defender Fabrício Bruno. Midfielder Vitinho and defender Gustavo Henrique are also out, who have already started the transition work, but are still in no condition to play.

The good news at Flamengo is that Rodrigo Caio trained normally at Ninho do Urubu’s CT. The defender took a hit during the 2-2 draw with Ceará, last Saturday (14th), and came to worry.

If in Libertadores the team from Rio de Janeiro is doing well, the same cannot be said in the Brasileirão, where coach Paulo Souza’s team is in 16th position: “Unfortunately, the moments have not been beneficial. But we will continue to believe in our ideas and, for sure, things will turn around.”

In addition to this Tuesday’s game, Flamengo will have four other matches in a row at Maracanã: against Goiás, Sporting Cristal (Peru), Fluminense and Fortaleza. The sequence is seen as defining Paulo Souza’s future at Flamengo. It is worth remembering that the Portuguese coach took over the Gávea club just over four months ago.