Gávea was the stage for an international friendly this Friday (18). Flamengo's under-20 team, reinforced by some athletes from the professional squad, faced Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) and won 5-1, with goals from Lorran, Arthur (own goal), Matheus Gonçalves, Pedro Leão and Gusttavo. 

This was the first time that a Bundesliga club held pre-season training in South America. Since last week, Bayer has been training at Ninho do Urubu, CT rubro-negro, where it will remain until next Wednesday (23).

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The game

The friendly had barely begun when Flamengo opened the scoring in the first minute. Lorran led a counterattack in his own half, setting up Matheus Gonçalves, who sent the ball back to Lorran, who slotted it into the goalkeeper's right corner: 1-0. 

With the advantage, the red-and-black team maintained its intensity and scored the second before the tenth minute. Matheus Gonçalves burst into the box from the right, went after his marker, and shot across the six-yard box. Former red-and-black Arthur tried to control the ball and sent it into his own net to extend Mengão's lead: 2-0. 

Playing catch-up, Bayer gradually gained control of possession and began to move more forward. Flamengo, for their part, didn't change their stance, and whenever they had possession, they attempted vertical attacks. 

In the 38th minute, Mengão extended their lead. Gusttavo, who had just come on for Viña, delivered a perfect cross for Matheus Gonçalves to head stylishly into the goalkeeper's right corner, scoring the third goal for the red-and-blacks. 

In stoppage time, the Red-Blacks scored the fourth to turn the score around! Lorran charged into the box and fired a well-placed shot. The ball hit the post and bounced back to Pedro Leão, who controlled the ball and simply had to tap it into the net. A great first half for the Boys from the Nest. 

In the second half, Mengão extended their lead even further. Gusttavo received the ball on the left, advanced into the box, and chipped it past the goalkeeper to score the fifth. 

With the rout in hand, coach Bruno Pivetti made several changes to the red-and-black team. In the 24th minute, Bayer pulled one back with Culbreath, who capitalized on a cross into the box and slotted home to make it 5-1. 

In the final minutes, the Ninho Boys valued possession of the ball until the referee's final whistle to leave the field with a great victory against a big German club.  

Flamengo

Matheus Cunha; Daniel Sales (Wanderson), Iago, Cleiton (Da Mata) and Viña (Gusttavo); João Alves, Joshua (Fabiano) and Guilherme; Lorran (Shola), Matheus Gonçalves (Felipe Teresa) and Pedro Leão (Mora). 
Coach: Bruno Pivetti.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Flekken; Domnic, Pohl, Hawighorst and Turay; Tape, Mensah, Arthur, Hofmann and Adli; Boniface.
Coach: Erik ten Hag

Technical sheet

Flamengo 5x1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen – International Friendly
Location: José Bastos Padilha Stadium, Gávea-RJ
Date and time: 18/07/2025 at 14:30 am
Goals: Lorran (1'1st half), Arthur (own goal 9'1st half), Matheus Gonçalves (38'1st half), Pedro Leão (48'1st half), Gusttavo (9'2nd half) and Culbreath (24'2nd half).

MEEEEENGOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

A rout in Gávea and a rout in the friendly against Bayer Leverkusen!

⚽️Lorran, GC, Matheus G., Pedro Leão and Gusttavo#gameover #doninhoboys pic.twitter.com/FSC7PWiOkv

- Flamengo (@Flamengo) July 18, 2025