“Best in Brazil”: Filipe Luís backs Arrascaeta to start for Flamengo | OneFootball

Flamengo Defeats Internacional 1-0 in the First Leg of the Libertadores Round of 16

On Wednesday (13), Flamengo left Maracanã with a 1-0 victory over Internacional in the first leg of the Libertadores Round of 16. The minimal home score raised questions about the absence of Arrascaeta, who was suspended due to an accumulation of cards. The question, therefore, is whether the number 10 will return to the starting lineup in the upcoming matches.

— I always think about the game plan and what difficulties the opponent will present. The duo who played today, Bruno and Plata, played in the Supercup final and had an extraordinary game. They have a very good socio-affective relationship between them and nobody is irreplaceable. But we were talking – alongside Kaio Jorge – about the best player in Brazil, which is Arrascaeta. We have to try to get the most out of him and keep him always fresh, to perform the way he is performing -, highlighted coach Filipe Luís during a press conference after a question asked by the Coluna do Fla reporters.

Did Arrascaeta's Absence Matter?

The Uruguayan Arrascaeta received yellow cards in the matches against Deportivo Táchira, Central Córdoba and LDU Quito. Therefore, he served an automatic suspension against Internacional. Thus, Flamengo could not count on the number 10, who has 14 goals and nine assists this season.

Who Scored Against Internacional?

Flamengo dominated the first half and opened the scoring with Bruno Henrique, as Luiz Araújo delivered a perfect corner kick for the red-black idol's header. However, the team's performance dropped in the second half, maintaining only the minimum advantage.

What is Flamengo's Situation?

The return match will be next Wednesday (20), starting at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at the Beira-Rio stadium. Flamengo qualifies with a draw, while Inter needs to win by two goals difference to advance directly.

If the team from Rio Grande do Sul wins by one goal, the decision will go to penalties. Thus, the two teams will face each other again this weekend, this time for the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship. The duel will be on Sunday (17), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), again in the South.

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