Coluna do Fla
·09 de abril de 2026
Surreal! Paquetá on toughest Flamengo v Cusco game at altitude

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Yahoo sportsColuna do Fla
·09 de abril de 2026

Flamengo got off to a flying start in the Copa Libertadores! This Wednesday (08), Mengão beat Cusco (PER) 2-0 away from home. On top of the opponent, the Rubro-Negro side also had to deal with the 3,400 meters of altitude. A starter for Flamengo in the match, Lucas Paquetá spoke about the problems caused by the thin air.
“We try to adapt during the game, but everything we do is difficult, and your head gets a little foggy. But, thank God, we played well and came away with the three points,” said Lucas Paquetá in an interview after the match, still on the pitch at Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.
Comparing Flamengo’s lineups in the last two matches, against Santos and Cusco, Leonardo Jardim made seven changes. The heavily rotated team that won in its Libertadores opener earned praise from Lucas Paquetá.
— Our squad is very talented. Everyone knows Flamengo’s strength. But the most important thing is for us to believe in that and put it into practice in every match, regardless of who plays. It’s about stepping onto the pitch and doing our best for the Flamengo shirt —, added the midfielder.
Even at high altitude, Flamengo controlled Cusco and won 2-0. Bruno Henrique and Arrascaeta, two Rubro-Negro idols, found the net. With Independiente Medellín (COL) and Estudiantes (ARG) drawing, Fla moved into first place in Group A of the Libertadores.
Now, Flamengo host the Colombian side at the Maracanã on Thursday (16). Before that, however, the Rubro-Negro have a Brasileirão fixture against Fluminense, also in Rio de Janeiro, kicking off at 6:30 PM (Brasília time) on Saturday (11).
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.









































