Midfielder Maldonado urged his teammates to pay extra attention to the Palmeiras supporters, Flamengo's next opponent in the Brazilian Championship. According to the Chilean, both players are highly skilled and capable of deciding a match.

"Diego Souza is a strong, technically gifted player who gets forward very well. So is Cleiton, who has excellent passing. We have to be very careful with both of them, but Palmeiras also has other good players. Vagner Love is also very dangerous and needs to be watched closely. Palmeiras is doing very well in the league, but Flamengo is improving. I believe it will be a very competitive match, because the pitch there is smaller and makes it difficult for the attack."