The mystery is over: Flamengo will face Atlético Mineiro this Thursday (August 26.08) with the traditional 4-4-2 formation. Recently signed striker Diogo will start, with Leandro Amaral as his partner up front. Val Baiano will be on the bench. Another new addition to the substitutes is midfielder Maldonado, who returns to the squad after more than two months. Youngster Galhardo is also on the bench.

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The starting lineup will therefore consist of Marcelo Lomba, Leonardo Moura, Jean, Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan; Correa, Willians, Renato, and Petkovic; Leandro Amaral and Diogo. The bench will include Paulo Victor, David, Galhardo, Toró, Maldonado, Vinícius Pacheco, and Val Baiano. Before announcing the lineup, the coach had already indicated that the main trend was to field the team in this format.

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"Flamengo was a team that scored a lot of goals, but also conceded a lot of goals. We tried three center-backs and three defensive midfielders, four center-backs and three defensive midfielders, but I worked on the team in the off-season and we organized the defensive system in a 4-4-2. I think we're doing well like this. What we need to improve is the attack as a whole. It's not just the forwards. The games are very balanced, but of course we need to improve. The team is stealing a lot of balls, but we're looking to improve the way we release the ball," he said in a press conference held last Wednesday (25/08).

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