After a shaky start to the campaign, the reigning champions return to the Maracana seeking their first league points of the year.
This mid-week clash with Internacional is a fantastic opportunity for Flamengo to steady the ship and integrate their latest superstar signing Lucas Paqueta.
The blockbuster return of Paqueta
The 2025 Serie A winners have endured a mixed start to the new season.
They began by pulling off the biggest transfer in Brazilian football history, bringing Lucas Paqueta back to the club, before losing to Sao Paulo in the league opener and then falling to a 2–0 defeat against Corinthians in the Supercopa do Brasil.
This slump has come as a shock to many, as the Rubro-Negro were expected to dominate following their record-breaking £36.5m signing of Paqueta.
Fans are now looking to the Brazilian – who will wear the iconic number 20 – to provide the creative spark that has been missing during this uncharacteristic two-game losing streak.
Midfield crisis at Ninho do Urubu
Manager Filipe Luis will be expecting Paqueta and his teammates to turn their poor start around as they face Internacional at home.
However, injuries continue to weaken Flamengo, with key midfielders Saul Niguez and Danilo unavailable, while Jorginho is suspended after receiving a red card against Sao Paulo.
The absence of Jorginho – who was sent off for dissent in the opener – leaves a tactical gap that Paqueta will be expected to fill immediately upon his Maracana homecoming.
Luis may be forced into a different formation to maximise his creative players while providing cover for a thin defensive midfield that has struggled with transitions.
The Maracana fortress
The Maracana has acted as something of a fortress for the Rio side, who now have seven wins from their last eight matches there.
Flamengo will be eager to maintain that form to avoid an early-season crisis. The fans are expected to turn out in massive numbers, hoping that the return of a Cria do Ninho can provide the energy boost needed to break their poor start.
For the management, a win here is essential to stop the mounting pressure that always accompanies a Flamengo side that isn’t winning, especially with the high expectations of the 2026 season.
Internacional’s defensive strategy
Internacional suffered defeat in their opening fixture against newly promoted Athletico Paranaense and will be desperate to get points on the board.
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Former Lille midfielder and regular starter Thiago Maia is unavailable due to a thigh injury. While the loss of Maia is significant, the return to fitness of veteran Gabriel Mercado provides a much-needed boost to their defensive line.
Inter will likely look to sit deep and exploit the spaces left by a Flamengo side that is desperate to attack and prove their worth to an increasingly impatient home crowd.
