This Sunday (January 24.01th), Flamengo faced Santa Cruz. In another pre-season friendly, the Mais Querido participated in the Chico Science Cup. In Recife, the home team scored twice in the second half and won 3-1. Now, Rubro-Negro travels to Belo Horizonte, where they play their first official game of the year against Atlético-MG, at Mineirão, next Wednesday (January 27.01th), at 21:45 pm.

The intense heat in Recife didn't hinder the first half of the match. Flamengo and Santa Cruz started the game with great intensity. In the fourth minute, Éverton won a corner from the left. Five minutes later, Gabriel delivered a well-placed cross from the other end. Éverton was again in the spotlight in the tenth minute, when he cleared the defense and fired a low shot from the edge of the box. In the 10th minute, Gabriel played a one-two with number 18 and fired a powerful shot, but Tiago Cardoso managed to palm it away. The score would change for the first time in the 22th minute. Guerrero delivered a beautiful pass to Willian Arão, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Tiago Cardoso saved the first shot, but the number 28 ran after it, pounced on the rebound, and found the back of the net. Thirty minutes into the match, the Mais Querido almost doubled their lead. Emerson fired a low shot, Éverton deflected it, and the ball hit the post. Newly signed Alex showed his ability late in the first half, making good saves from Santa's chances. The home team would equalize almost in the final play of the first half. Grafite fell in the box, and the referee awarded a penalty. The striker himself took the shot and converted.

Flamengo returned for the second half with 10 changes. With only Alex remaining in goal, the team's style of play and intensity changed. Santa Cruz turned the score around in the seventh minute. João Paulo capitalized on a rebound off the post and, without a goalkeeper, made it 2-1. The teams dropped their intensity and created fewer and fewer opportunities. The home team closed the scoring in the 45th minute of the second half. Arthur struck a powerful shot from the edge of the box to make it three.