A real dance. That's how Flamengo beat Sport 4-1 at Maracanã on Sunday afternoon (29). With goals from Réver, Lucas Paquetá, Everton Ribeiro and Uribe, the Mais Querido secured the lead in the Brasileirão. After the game, coach Maurício Barbieri spoke to the press in the stadium's auditorium.

"I think we played a great game as a team, which helped and contributed to our individual highlights. Marlos played a great game, living up to our expectations, with great balance and resourcefulness. Uribe also scored, and Réver scored to cap off the excellent work with Léo in defense. We conceded a goal, and that, of course, complicates things. Despite a great first half, the mood in the locker room is tense. The halftime discussion was relaxed due to our strong opening period. We needed to finish better, occupy the box more. The conversation focused on maintaining composure and focusing on specific issues. We came back strong and didn't feel the goal; we managed to play a good game, and it was more relaxed. We scored early and still had chances to score more. I'm very pleased with the result and the collective performance," said the coach.

"We'll evaluate the players after each game to see how they're doing. If someone is unfit or at risk of injury, we'll rest them. But we've been preparing for this for a long time, and we're always evaluating these situations with the CEP. We have few injuries in the group, and those who are coming in are helping us a lot. We're finding a good balance and achieving results," Barbieri assessed.

Barbieri took the opportunity to praise the nation once again. "Once again, the fans put on a show, a spectacle. The atmosphere at Maracanã is beautiful; they support us, pushing us forward. We were able to repay them by going for more goals even though we were winning well. We'll give our all to continue this harmony," he stated.

"The victory is important not only for the rest of the season, but also for the Brazilian Championship. We wanted to reach this point fighting for the top spots, and we've been doing that well. We faced a team that wasn't in good form, but they had good results against teams fighting for the title. Our play and performance helped us stay calm. Now it's time to turn the tables and focus on Grêmio. It will be a great game, a healthy contest. We're counting on all our players and working daily to ensure everyone gets on the field and can deliver. We're constantly preparing and will find the best way to beat Grêmio, who are very strong at home. But we're also very good and we're going after this result," commented Maurício Barbieri.

The coach also discussed Vitinho's arrival at Mais Querido. "Vitinho arrives at the end of the season, in a different physical condition. Every athlete needs time to gel, but this has happened before with other players. He's a great player, and we know that if he's fully fit and ready to play, he'll be a huge help to us," he added.

Flamengo's next match will be on Wednesday (1), at 21:45 pm, against Grêmio. The match, which will be away from home, is valid for the first leg of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals.