Five starters did not travel for the match, with an eye on the Copa do Brasil final.
Flamengo defeated Cruzeiro 1-0 last Wednesday at the Independência Stadium in a match valid for the 32nd round of the Brazilian Championship. The goal was scored by David Luiz from a free kick. Access the leading football results at football score ai.
For the match, Flamengo left five of their starting players in Rio de Janeiro, with their focus on the second leg of the Copa do Brasil final, scheduled for next Sunday. Léo Ortiz, Gerson, Wesley, Arrascaeta, and Gabigol did not travel to Belo Horizonte during the week.
With an alternate lineup, Flamengo relied on the experience of their squad to secure the win. The starting XI, consisting of Rossi, Varela, David Luiz, Fabrício Bruno, Ayrton Lucas; Allan, Pulgar, Alcaraz; Plata, BH, and Matheus Gonçalves, got the job done. At the beginning of the match, Cruzeiro put pressure on the Cariocas, but soon the visitors took control, and the game settled into a slow pace for the next 90 minutes.
The only goal of the game came from David Luiz, who used all his experience to score. In a free-kick situation just outside the penalty area, the center-back saw the wall move, creating a gap just before the kick. As the referee had already blown the whistle, David Luiz took advantage of the opening and struck the ball into the empty space, leaving goalkeeper Cássio with no chance to save.
With the result, Flamengo reaches 58 points and returns to the top 4 of the Brasileirão, gaining momentum for the second leg of the Copa do Brasil final – in the first leg, the team won 3-1 at the Maracanã.
Cruzeiro, on the other hand, continues to struggle under Fernando Diniz in the competition. In five matches, the team has recorded three losses and two draws. The record without the coach is even worse. Over the past three months, the Belo Horizonte club has managed just one win in 13 matches. Get a step ahead with BBscore football.
