Leonardo Jardim Faces 10 Flamengo Absences Before Coritiba Clash — Flamengo Vs Coritiba

Flamengo vs Coritiba arrives on Saturday at 16:00 at the Maracanã with Leonardo Jardim managing 10 absences and a likely return for Rossi in goal. Flamengo still sits seven points behind Palmeiras, while the visitors come in chasing the Libertadores qualification zone.

Maracanã Holds Saturday Kickoff

The match is set for the 18th round of the Brasileirão and will be shown live on sportv and Premiere. The game also gets live coverage with exclusive videos, giving viewers a clear path to follow the lineup decisions and the result as it develops.

Flamengo asked the CBF to move the fixture because of the number of unavailable players, but the request was denied. That leaves the league leaders’ pursuit unchanged on the calendar and forces Jardim to sort through a thin group for a game they need to use to cut into Palmeiras’ edge.

Jardim Manages Flamengo Absences

Danilo, Alex Sandro, Lucas Paquetá, De la Cruz and Plata are among the players out through call-ups, while Léo Pereira, Carrascal and Varela are missing because of suspensions and call-ups. Arrascaeta is out with a right shoulder injury and a call-up, and Jorginho is unavailable because of a right foot injury.

That leaves Flamengo with a likely lineup of Rossi; Emerson Royal, Léo Ortiz, Vitão and Ayrton Lucas; Evertton Araújo, Pulgar and Luiz Araújo; Samuel Lino, Bruno Henrique or Saúl, and Pedro. Bruno Henrique, Lucas Paquetá, Samuel Lino, Everton Cebolinha and De la Cruz are also listed as pending disciplinary concerns, which adds another layer to a bench already expected to lean on youth players.

Coritiba Brings Away Form

Coritiba travel with their own edge. They sit in sixth place and have the third-best away record, behind only Palmeiras and Flamengo, so Fernando Seabra’s side is not arriving just to absorb pressure at the Maracanã.

Lucas Ronier is expected to be available after intensive treatment during the week, and his muscle edema in the posterior of his right thigh improved enough to put him in reserve contention. Coritiba’s attacking trio should again be Lavega, Breno Lopes and Pedro Rocha, giving them a familiar front line against a Flamengo side trying to recover from the 3-0 loss to Palmeiras in the previous round.

Rossi’s return matters most inside a squad built around absences, because Flamengo won in midweek and advanced with the best campaign in the Conmebol Libertadores group stage before turning back to league play. Saturday’s test is simple for the hosts: protect the gap below them, and keep Coritiba from turning the Maracanã into another difficult away stop.