Flamengo secured an important 1-1 draw with Athletico-PR, this Sunday (17), at Arena da Baixada, for the 16th round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship. In a very intense game in Curitiba, the Rubro-Negro fell behind after a goal by Stiven Mendoza early in the first half, but equalized in the second half with Pedro, who once again scored in the Brasileirão. In the final minutes, Danilo was sent off and Fla held on to the result even with one player less.

Leonardo Jardim's team struggled against Athletico's initial pressure and a synthetic pitch that required adaptations amidst several important absences. With the result, the Rubro-Negro reaches 31 points and remains in second place in the Brazilian Championship, with one game less, in addition to having seven consecutive matches without losing in the competition, with five wins and two draws. 

The game

Even playing away from home and with several players missing, Flamengo started by trying to control possession. Athletico-PR, however, began the match with high intensity, pressing Flamengo's defense and occupying the attacking half in the opening minutes.

The first big chance came just three minutes in, when Mendoza received the ball in the box and his shot was blocked by Léo Pereira. Shortly after, Benavídez found himself unmarked following a set-piece corner kick, but his shot was also blocked.

Flamengo responded nine minutes later. Samuel Lino advanced down the left and crossed into the box. The defense partially cleared, and Varela set up Paquetá to shoot first-time, but over the goal.

In the 11th minute, Athletico opened the scoring. Mendoza received the ball in the box and shot hard. The ball deflected off Léo Ortiz and Rossi ended up deflecting it into his own net: 1-0.

After conceding the goal, Flamengo began to control possession more and occupy the attacking half. Carrascal, Paquetá, and Pedro tried to find spaces against the tight defense of the Paraná team. Danilo almost equalized with a header in the 32nd minute, while Paquetá created danger with a low pass that crossed the entire penalty area.

In the second half, Flamengo returned even more aggressively. Five minutes in, Samuel Lino delivered a perfect cross for Carrascal, who headed the ball against the crossbar. Shortly after, Pedro almost scored after receiving a precise cross from Alex Sandro.

Flamengo's pressure intensified, but Athletico continued to defend well and also threatened on counter-attacks. In the 33rd minute, Rossi shone with an impressive series of saves against Viveros, preventing the home team's second goal.

Flamengo's persistence paid off in the 39th minute. Léo Pereira delivered a beautiful through ball behind the defense to Bruno Henrique, who burst into the box at speed and rolled the ball to Pedro to finish into the goal: 1-1.

The number 9 shirt wearer reached his 17th goal of the season and his 169th with the Sacred Mantle (Flamengo's jersey). In the Brasileirão (Brazilian Championship), Pedro took the lead in the competition's top scorer ranking, now with nine goals. Athletico-PR became Pedro's second biggest victim for Flamengo, having conceded eight goals, behind only Fluminense, which conceded nine.

Bruno Henrique has now reached his sixth assist in 2026 and his 59th with the Flamengo jersey. Among the players who have provided the most assists for Pedro's goals for Flamengo, BH appears in second place, with eight decisive passes.

In the final minutes, the game became even more eventful. Danilo was eventually sent off in the 45th minute of the second half, receiving his second yellow card after interrupting an Athletico counter-attack, but Flamengo held on for the draw until the final whistle in Curitiba.

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Athletico-PR

Santos; Lucas Esquivel (Gilberto), Juan Felipe Aguirre and Arthur Dias; Léo Derik (Claudinho), Felipinho (Renan Peixoto), Jádson and Gastón Benavídez; Bruno Zapelli (João Cruz); Kevin Viveros and Stiven Mendoza.

Coach: Odair Hellmann.

Flamengo

Rossi; Varela, Danilo, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Léo Ortiz (Emerson Royal) and Saúl Ñíguez (Bruno Henrique); Jorge Carrascal (Ayrton Lucas), Lucas Paquetá and Samuel Lino (Everton); Pedro (Vitão).

Coach: Leonardo Jardim.

Week's agenda

Flamengo returns to the field on Wednesday (20) to face Estudiantes, at 21:30 pm, at the Maracanã Stadium, for the 5th round of the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup.

Technical sheet

Athletico-PR 1 x 1 Flamengo – Brazilian Championship 2026 | Round 16 
Location: Arena da Baixada – Curitiba, PR
Date and time: 17/05/2026, at 19:30 am
Referees: Rafael Rodrigo Klein (RS), Eduardo Goncalves da Cruz (MS), Michael Stanislau (RS) and Emerson de Almeida Ferreira (MG).
Yellow cards: Jorge Carrascal (FLA), Felipinho (CAP), Jadson (CAP), Danilo (FLA)
Red card: Danilo (FLA)
Goals: Stiven Mendoza (11'1st half) and Pedro (39'2nd half).