Flamengo debuts in the Brazilian Under-20 against Athletico-PR this Friday (21), in Curitiba
After winning the Libertadores for the second time, Garotos do Ninho are looking for a third title in the competition
By nelson coast - in
Photo: ConmebolAfter winning the U-20 Libertadores for the second time, Flamengo returns to the field this Friday (21), at 15 pm, for the debut in the Brazilian Championship, in the category against Athletico-PR, at CT do Caju, in Curitiba. The match will be for the second round of the competition, since the first game was postponed precisely because Rubro-Negro was competing in the continental competition.
The team coached by Cleber dos Santos will be out for four medical reasons: goalkeeper Lucas Furtado, due to a dislocated ring finger on his left hand; defenders Iago, who is recovering from a sprained right ankle, and Carbone, with a strained right adductor; and forward Felipe Teresa, with a right biceps femoris injury (suffered in the first half of the Copa Libertadores final). The players are undergoing treatment in the medical department.
On the other hand, the squad will gain two important reinforcements for the clash with Athletico. Striker Wallace Yan, who was available to Filipe Luís for the Carioca finals, is back. Midfielder Lorran is another returning to the squad after not being selected for the Libertadores.
Last year, Flamengo was eliminated from the Brazilian Championship in the quarterfinals, after a 1-0 defeat to Fortaleza, at Gávea, with a goal conceded in the 49th minute of the second half, on August 29. The detail is that the Garotos do Ninho had won the Intercontinental U-20 Club Championship, the world championship for the category, five days earlier, in a 2-1 comeback victory over Olympiacos-GRE, with goals from Caio Garcia and Felipe Teresa, at Maracanã, in front of more than 30 thousand people.
It's worth noting that the U-20 team finished second in the first phase of the 2024 competition, with 38 points, three behind Palmeiras, who finished top. Athletico finished fourth after losing 3-1 to the São Paulo team in the semifinals, which went on to win the title.
Champion in 2019 and 2023, both times against Palmeiras, Flamengo begins its quest for its third Brazilian U-20 title. In addition to these two victories, Flamengo has finished third three times and fourth twice. Palmeiras is the biggest winner so far, with three titles.