Back in the Brasileirão, Flamengo took to the field on Sunday night (25) and beat RB Bragantino 2-1 at Maracanã, in the 24th round of the national competition. In his return, Michael scored the first goal, and Raul (own goal) scored the second. With the result, Mengão totaled 44 points and remains close behind the championship leaders.

The game
With Michael making his return for Flamengo, the red-and-black team began the match valuing possession in the attacking half. In the seventh minute, Luiz Araújo took a short corner kick and received the ball back. The number 7 took a shot, but the goalkeeper made the save with ease.

And it didn't take long for Mengão to take the lead with a goal from the night's debutant! Luiz Araújo delivered a perfect cross to Michael, who headed it into the net. The little robot scores on his return to the Mais Querido!

Bragantino barely had the ball in the center circle before the red-and-black team could have already scored a second. Luiz Araújo passed the ball to Michael in the box, and the number 30 sent it home. Cleiton jumped to make the save, saving the São Paulo team.

In the final stretch of the first half, the red-and-black team moved the ball around and controlled the game, killing time. In the 44th minute, Léo Pereira nutmegged the defender and crossed perfectly for Luiz Araújo to tap in. Cleiton managed to palm it away, and David Luiz stretched to try and head the ball, but couldn't reach the ball. With the increased play, Mengão went into halftime with a one-goal lead.

Flamengo returned unchanged for the second half. In the ninth minute, the red-and-black team threatened to attack. Wesley led the counterattack and delivered a perfect pass to Michael on the left. He controlled the ball and sent it toward the goalkeeper's right corner, but the ball went out of bounds.

Then, Bragantino leveled the score with Douglas Mendes, who took advantage of the rebound in the area and sent it into the goal: 1-1.

The opposition didn't even have time to celebrate the goal because Mengão scored their second shortly after with an own goal by Raul. Luiz Araújo cleared the play and crossed into the box from the right. Eduardo tried to clear it, but the ball hit the Bragantino midfielder and went in: 2-1.

Around the 30th minute, Matheus Bacchi made the team's first substitutions: Ayrton Lucas replaced Léo Pereira and Lorran replaced Gerson. In the final minutes, Flamengo exchanged passes and managed their lead until the final whistle to leave the field with the victory.

Week's agenda
Rubro-Negro returns to the field next Wednesday (28) to face Bahia, at 21:30 pm, at Arena Fonte Nova, for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil.

Flamengo
Rossi; Wesley, Leo Ortiz, David Luiz and Leo Pereira (Ayrton Lucas); Allan (Evertton Araújo), Erick Pulgar (Fabrício Bruno) and Gerson (Lorran); Luiz Araújo (Varela), Michael and Bruno Henrique.
Coach: Matheus Bacchi.

RB Bragantino
Cleiton; Andrés Hurtado, Douglas Mendes, Eduardo Santos and Luan Cândido (Guilherme Lopes); Jadsom, Raul (Riquelme) and Jhon Jhon (Vinicinho); Gustavinho (Chumbinho), Eduardo Sasha and Henry Mosquera.
Coach: Pedro Caixinha.

Technical sheet
Flamengo 2x1 RB Bragantino – 24th Round of the Brazilian Championship
Location: Maracanã, RJ
Date and time: 25/08/2024 at 20:XNUMX am
Audience and income: 30.225 / R$ 1.755.317,50
Arbitration: Gustavo Ervino Bauermann (SC), Bruno Boschilia (PR) and Gizeli Casaril (SC)
Yellow cards: Jadsom (RBB) and Bruno Henrique (FLA)
Goals: Michael (16'1st half), Douglas Mendes (11'2nd half) and Raul (13'2nd half).