Flamengo achieved an excellent result in their last match before the World Cup and maintained a good lead in the 2018 Brazilian Championship. With the 1-1 draw against Palmeiras at Allianz Arena, the "Mais Querido" (Most Beloved) reached 27 points, opening a four-point lead over São Paulo (23) and an eight-point lead over Palmeiras (19).

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Upon returning from the World Cup, Flamengo will face São Paulo at the Maracanã, in a match that could further widen the gap. The game will be on Wednesday, July 18th, right after the World Cup in Russia. 

The game

The first half began with the home team pressing Flamengo. Encouraged by the crowd, Palmeiras pressed high and pinned Flamengo back in their own half. Just four minutes in, Diego Alves made a sensational save from a Willian header, but couldn't prevent Palmeiras from scoring a minute later. Dudu crossed, Bruno Henrique flicked the ball into the middle, and Willian finished almost on the goal line. 

The goal energized Palmeiras, but it also switched Flamengo on. With their trademark ball possession, Mengão got into the game and responded with dangerous plays. Vinicius Junior went down the left and forced Jailson into a good save. Vinicius, again, was responsible for another great chance when he picked up a rebound from Jailson and tried to lob the goalkeeper, but shot too hard. Five minutes later, Everton Ribeiro forced the goalkeeper into another save, but the first half ended with Palmeiras in the lead. 

The start of the final stage was like the previous one. Palmeiras pressed forward, and Diego Alves made two spectacular saves, stopping the green attack. But Flamengo didn't just stay in their own half and responded. If they scored early, we responded. Thuler rose three meters inside the area and headed Rodinei's cross past the Palmeiras goalkeeper, tying the game. It was his first goal in 11 matches wearing the Sacred Mantle (Flamengo's jersey). 

The game heated up. Vinicius Junior and Lucas Paquetá, with a lot of experience and composure, provoked the Palmeiras players with their ball control. Felipe Melo committed a violent foul on the number 20, but only received a yellow card. And two minutes after the goal, Flamengo almost turned the game around. Felipe Vizeu shot, Jailson saved, and the ball fell to Vinicius, who shot freely, but the defense cleared it. 

Mauricio Barbieri made a substitution, bringing on Willian Arão in place of Jean Lucas. The game became very tight in midfield, with few chances for either team. Vinicius was forcing plays against the Palmeiras defense and accumulating yellow cards for his players.

And at 39 minutes, Felipe Vizeu left Flamengo. After 75 games and 20 goals, the striker, a product of the club's youth academy, was replaced by Marlos Moreno, bidding farewell to the club where he "was born" into football. Barbieri also brought on Jonas in place of Everton Ribeiro, and Vinicius Junior almost scored at 46 minutes when he came in from the left, but his shot was weak and easily saved by Jailson.

In the end, widespread confusion led to the expulsion of Cuéllar, Jonas, and Henrique Dourado from Flamengo, and Dudu, Jailson, and Luan from Palmeiras. Upon resumption of play, referee Braulio da Silva Machado ended the match without allowing Flamengo to restart play. A draw away from home, an increased gap in the standings, and now it's time to rest a bit before returning to training during the World Cup.