Fate could offer Diego Alves a chance to reclaim Flamengo starting spot | OneFootball

Diego Alves may earn a reprieve at Flamengo due to the early-season woes endured by the Rubro-Negro.

The 36-year-old had been relegated to third-choice goalkeeper by manager Paulo Sousa when he took charge at the start of the year.

With Santos sidelined as a result of a muscle injury, Hugo Souza has been given the nod in recent games.

However the 23-year-old has never truly convinced the Mengão faithful, and he came in for further criticism after being caught out of position to allow Nino Paraíba’s free-kick fly straight in and give Ceará an injury-time equaliser in Saturday’s 2-2 draw.

That failure to win means that Flamengo now lie in 16th place in the Brasileirão table, just one spot above the relegation zone.

Despite Sousa’s obvious preference for Souza ahead of Alves, the former Poland boss might be tempted to reinstate the veteran in order to take the youngster out of the spotlight.

We will find out soon enough, as Flamengo are back in action on Tuesday when they host Chile’s Universidad Católica in a Copa Libertadores Group H clash.

Fla have taken 10 points from their opening four games, and victory at the Maracanã would guarantee them progress to the next stage of the competition.