Arrascaeta returns after 97 days as Flamengo build minutes for No 10 | OneFootball

Arrascaeta made his first appearance for Flamengo in 97 days, coming on in the second half of a 4-0 win at Chapecoense at Arena Condá, starting the club's plan to rebuild the No 10's match sharpness.

According to Globo.com, the Uruguayan midfielder will have three Brasileirão matches to build minutes before a round of 16 tie against Cruzeiro in the Libertadores on 12 August. The intention is to maximise his game time across that run.

Flamengo host São Paulo at the Maracanã on Sunday at 18:30, then visit Internacional on 29 July at Beira-Rio, before meeting Vitória on the ninth of August back at the Maracanã. The expectation is that he will be up to speed by the Cruzeiro clash.

His previous outing was on 29 April against Estudiantes in the Libertadores, when he fractured his clavicle. In early June he then suffered a calf injury in Uruguay training, he was not cut but did not feature at the World Cup.

The plan is to build his rhythm without compromising the team's structure, targeting a medium-term return to full capacity.

The victory kept Flamengo second in the Brasileirão on 37 points, with a game in hand on leaders Palmeiras, who moved to 44 after winning in this round.

Source: Globo.com