Ancelotti hit by late issue, Léo Pereira impacted for Brazil v Egypt | OneFootball

Léo Pereira could start this Saturday (06) against Egypt

Brazil’s center-back pairing for the World Cup will be Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães. However, Léo Pereira has a good chance of starting in Brazil’s final friendly before the World Cup, against Egypt, next Saturday (09). That’s because the Arsenal defender has become a last-minute concern.

After an intense end to the season with the English club, which ended with the Premier League title and the Champions League runner-up finish, Gabriel Magalhães reported fatigue while with the Brazil National Team. The defender played 13 matches in the last two months, staying on the pitch for the full 90 minutes in 11 of them. And in all of those matches, the pressure was high, since Arsenal could not afford to slip up in the point-by-point title race with Manchester City (ENG), aside from the final stretch of the continental competition.

As a result, Léo Pereira trained with the first-choice XI this Thursday (04) and is expected to remain in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting lineup. The Flamengo defender started Brazil’s last three friendlies, against France, Croatia, and Panama. Alongside the red-and-black player, the team is expected to face Egypt with: Alisson, Wesley, Marquinhos, and Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, and Lucas Paquetá (Rayan); Raphinha, Vini Jr, and Igor Thiago.

COULD LUCAS PAQUETÁ BE ON THE BENCH?

One of Brazil’s standout performers in the 6-2 thrashing of Panama, with a goal and a “movie-like” assist, Lucas Paquetá could be on the bench against Egypt. That’s because Carlo Ancelotti tested Rayan in place of the Flamengo midfielder during much of Thursday’s training session (04).

WHEN IS BRAZIL VS EGYPT?

Brazil and Egypt face off this Saturday (06), starting at 7 p.m. Brasília time, at Huntington Bank Field Stadium in Cleveland, United States. This will be the five-time world champion’s final match before its World Cup debut on the 13th against Morocco in New York.

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