Plata back for Flamengo as Leonardo Jardim faces four absences for Del Valle Libertadores trip | OneFootball

Flamengo visit Independiente del Valle in Quito on Thursday 10 at 21:30 Brasília time, the first leg of the Libertadores quarter-finals at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa. Leonardo Jardim has Gonzalo Plata back but is without four players.

The club said in a statement on Monday 7 that Everton Cebolinha and Lorran will not join the group in Ecuador. Everton has been granted leave for personal matters, while Lorran is on under-20 duty.

Evertton Araújo remains sidelined with a left adductor injury. Alex Sandro also misses out, working on the pitch with fitness staff after recovering from pain in his right calf.

Plata has been reintegrated and is available for the trip. The right winger returned after a failed move to Dynamo Moscow (RUS), spending time in Dubai seeking a new club, a stance that irritated figures at Ninho do Urubu.

He complied with an immediate return order and will be with the squad in Quito. His comeback arrives at a decisive juncture, with Flamengo juggling continental and domestic targets.

This tie opens a two-legged quarter-final, with the return set for the Maracanã. The result in Quito could shape Flamengo's push for the continental title.

Jardim is also managing the league campaign after Flamengo’s 1-0 win over Remo put them top of the Brasileirão on 54 points, one ahead of Palmeiras. The victory at the Mangueirão preceded the trip to Ecuador and has bolstered confidence.

Source: Coluna Do Fla

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”