Gabigol loses his cool, hints at Flamengo edge in Brasileirão | OneFootball

Gabigol Criticized the Brazilian Football Calendar at the Start of the Year

The Brazilian football calendar is experiencing a year with important matches right at the start of the season and no rest. Santos is the one suffering, playing with full strength for several rounds in the Paulistão and already feeling fatigue. Former Flamengo player Gabigol criticized the sequence of matches. On the other hand, the Rubro-Negro, which used the main squad only once, might have an advantage at the start of the Brasileirão.

— It's a very complicated game, in my opinion, it's a shame to have a classic after two, three weeks of training. The players are not 100% yet, we see several players already in pain, and this is a bit normal due to the preparation time. Everyone knows we need more time — said Gabigol, after the draw with Corinthians on Wednesday (21).

— But I believe it was a contested classic, in my view it was 50/50, they had good moments, we also had ours. Maybe at the end, we could have turned the game around. When it's like this, at the start of the season, the games have to be more open and what matters to me is the fight, the commitment, several players already making sacrifices. At home, we can't let the points slip away. It was a great draw — added the Santos forward.

FLAMENGO AT AN ADVANTAGE?

In 2026, Santos, with Gabigol, has already played four games in the Paulistão. The forward participated in three. Meanwhile, Flamengo debuted the main group last Wednesday (21), but with only four starters: Rossi, Léo Pereira, Erick Pulgar, and Carrascal. Names like Jorginho and Arrascaeta, for example, are being prepared for the debut in the Brasileirão, against São Paulo, next Wednesday (28).

One of the main candidates for the Brasileirão title alongside Flamengo, Palmeiras is also showing signs of wear. In the last midweek, the team lost 4-0 to Novorizontino and saw the walls of their headquarters being vandalized. Additionally, Andreas Pereira and Vitor Roque have already visited the Medical Department this year.

WHICH TEAM PLAYS AGAINST FLUMINENSE?

Still considering preserving the athletes for the main competitions, Flamengo is expected to field a mixed team again on Sunday (25), against Fluminense, for the fourth round of the Carioca. Thus, the match kicks off at 6 PM (Brasília time), at Maracanã.

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