Flamengo slip up but draw with Ceará, stay top of the Brasileirão | OneFootball

Flamengo remains leader of Brasileirão, but with the same score as Cruzeiro

Despite being away from home, Flamengo disappointed the fans on Sunday (03). With an uninspired performance, Filipe Luís' team drew 1-1 with Ceará at the Arena Castelão, in the 18th round of the Brasileirão. Arrascaeta opened the scoring for the Rubro-Negro, but Pedro Raúl equalized in the second half.

With the result, Flamengo remains in first place, with 37 points, the same as second-placed Cruzeiro. However, Mengão has an advantage in goal difference (24 to 19). It is worth noting that the Minas Gerais team has one more game in the Brasileirão, as Flamengo had their match against Sport postponed due to the Club World Cup.

HOW WAS THE FIRST HALF?

Flamengo dominated the first minutes of the game, marking high and suffocating Ceará. At 10', Arrascaeta made a good play in the middle and touched Plata, who chipped beautifully, but goalkeeper Bruno made the save. With 15', a remarkable chance: Alex Sandro touched Samuel Lino, who went to the bottom and crossed well for Bruno Henrique. However, the idol, completely free, isolated.

On the Ceará side, the idea was to wait for gaps to counter-attack, and an opportunity arose at 17. Léo Pereira missed in the attacking field, and Pedro Henrique took off. Pedro Raúl asked for a free kick in the area, but PH preferred to finish, for Agustín Rossi's defense.

At 36 minutes, finally, Flamengo broke Ceará's lock. Léo Ortiz gave an extraordinary pass, with a trivela, to Gonzalo Plata. The Ecuadorian nodded to Arrascaeta, who only waited for the exit of goalkeeper Bruno to send it to the back of the net. Mengão silenced the Castelão at this moment: 1-0. With 42', who gave a beautiful pass was Jorginho, to Bruno Henrique, who finished with his left foot, with danger. With 71% possession, the Most Beloved dominated the initial stage completely.

HOW WAS THE SECOND HALF?

In the interval, Filipe Luís made a change, replacing the goal-scorer, Arrascaeta, with Saúl. The Uruguayan, according to Flamengo's press office, felt discomfort in the posterior muscle of his left thigh. The Spaniard almost gave an assist to Samuel Lino, who hit hard, but Bruno defended at seven. Subsequently, almost the 'law of the ex' at Castelão. With a header, Lucas Mugni, who entered in the second half, hit the post.

Ceará began to have more possession, with Flamengo suffering scares. However, at 20 minutes, Mengão attacked again, with a strong shot from Gonzalo Plata, which Bruno palmed. However, the second half was indeed for the hosts. With 21', Lucas Mugni took a corner kick, Rossi came out very badly from the goal, and Pedro Raúl sent it to the back of the net, with a header. Tie at Castelão.

In the final stretch, Flamengo got tired, mainly Emerson Royal and Jorginho, and Filipe Luís had to make all the changes. Even Victor Hugo, who was not part of the technical committee's plans, re-debuted with the Sacred Mantle. However, a disappointing draw for Mengão's aspirations in the Brasileirão.

WHEN WILL FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME BE?

Flamengo closes the first round of the Brasileirão next Saturday (09), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), against Mirassol, at the Maracanã. Before that, however, the Most Beloved tries to turn the tables against Atlético-MG, in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. Thus, the ball rolls from 7 pm (Brasília time), on Wednesday (06), at the Arena MRV.

TECHNICAL FILE CEARÁ 1X1 FLAMENGO Competition: Brasileirão, 18th round Location: Arena Castelão, Fortaleza, Ceará Date: August 3, 2025, Sunday Goals: Arrascaeta, 36'/1st, Pedro Raúl 21'/2nd

LINEUPS

Ceará: Bruno Ferreira; Fabiano Souza, Marllon, Willian Machado, and Matheus Bahia; Dieguinho, Richardson, and Galeano; Lourenço, Pedro Henrique, and Pedro Raúl. Coach: Léo Condé.

Flamengo: Rossi, Emerson Royal, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Alex Sandro; Evertton Araújo, Jorginho, and Arrascaeta; Gonzalo Plata, Samuel Lino, and Bruno Henrique. Coach: Filipe Luís.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.