Cruzeiro set for fresh injury blow before Flamengo tie in Libertadores | OneFootball

When will the Flamengo vs. Cruzeiro matches take place in the Libertadores?

Flamengo is aiming to win back-to-back Libertadores titles in 2026 and, to do so, will need to get past Cruzeiro in the round of 16. The Minas Gerais side, however, could be facing another major injury absence.

That’s because, during the match against Botafogo this Sunday (26), forward Luis Sinisterra felt pain in the hamstring of his right thigh. As a result, the Colombian left the field in tears and on a stretcher. The expectation is that the player will undergo medical tests this Monday (27).

What happened in the play involving Sinisterra?

The play that forced Sinisterra off the pitch happened in the 37th minute of the first half. On that occasion, the forward received a long ball through the middle, accelerated to reach it, but stopped his run after feeling pain in his thigh.

Does Cruzeiro have a confirmed absence for the matches against Flamengo?

Yes! Cruzeiro already knows it will not be able to count on Gabriel Pec for the matches against Flamengo. That’s because, against Internacional last Wednesday (22), the forward suffered a fracture to the tibia in his left leg and had to undergo surgery.

What did Artur Jorge say about Cruzeiro’s situation?

— I have my reality and my expectations. We had Sinisterra and Fabrício (Bruno), who asked to come off. It will never serve as an excuse. But it is a reality. We became less competitive. We had fewer options and solutions — he said, before concluding:

— If we want to raise expectations, we have to strengthen our reality. There’s the case of Pec, whom we signed and didn’t even have for more than 70 minutes. With Sinisterra, we’re going to assess the severity. These are new developments. We’re short. That is a fact — concluded the Cruzeiro coach.

When will the matches between Flamengo and Cruzeiro take place in the Libertadores?

The first match between the teams is scheduled for August 12 at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Mineirão. Then, the second and decisive clash between Flamengo and Cruzeiro will take place on the 19th, at the same time, at the Maracanã. In this way, Rubro-Negro will have the support of the Nação as it looks to secure qualification.

How did Flamengo and Cruzeiro perform in the Libertadores group stage?

Flamengo finished the Libertadores group stage in first place in Group A, with 16 points from six matches. Not surprisingly, Rubro-Negro had the best overall campaign of the first stage of the tournament.

On the other hand, Cruzeiro finished the group stage in second place in Group D. In six matches, the Minas Gerais side recorded three wins, two draws, and one loss, totaling 11 points. As a result, the club will play the second leg of the round of 16 away from home.

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