Flamengo faces problems with injuries to Arrascaeta, Gabi and Pedro

After the 4-1 defeat to Botafogo this Sunday (18) at the Nilton Santos Stadium for the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo turns the key and thinks about the next match and how to set up the team after the recent injuries of Pedro, Gabigol and Arrascaeta.

Flamengo takes to the field on Thursday (21) for the decisive match in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores da América against Bolívar in the altitude of La Paz. Preparations for this game have already begun and Tite has serious problems in assembling the team. In addition to the three athletes mentioned, Everton Cebolinha and Viña underwent surgery and are out for the season.

Injured

Against Botafogo, Arrascaeta was injured just five minutes into the first half due to a thigh problem. The midfielder will undergo imaging tests to determine the extent of the injury and how long he will be out of action.

Pedro and Gabigol were injured in the match against Bolívar on Thursday (15) and have similar injuries, but with different degrees of severity. Pedro is expected to return to action in two weeks and Gabriel will only return in a month. Flamengo does not usually estimate the return time of injured athletes.

Viña and Cebolinha were injured in the match against Palmeiras in the Brasileirão on Sunday (11) and underwent surgery last week and are unlikely to return this season.

With this in mind, Flamengo is already considering hiring replacements in the market, and the first reinforcement could arrive this week. It is striker Michael, who said goodbye to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia this Sunday (18) and wants to return to the club. Flamengo is negotiating salary and bonuses, and hopes to announce the player in the coming days.

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_{Moment of striker Pedro's muscle injury (Photo: reproduction/PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP/Getty Images Embed)}

Preparation for the decisive game against Bolívar

There are four of Tite's absolute starters who will not be available for the duel against Bolívar next Thursday (21) in the round of 16 of the Libertadores and the Rubro-Negro coach will have to put together a puzzle to face the altitude of La Paz and guarantee a place in the next phase.

With the possibility of losing by up to one goal, Flamengo will have three opponents to deal with: the Bolívar team, the altitude of 3,640 meters in La Paz and the absences. With three important players from the midfield forward out of the match, Tite will have to field a more defensive team and could have Carlinhos leading the attack, who played in the defeat against Botafogo as a center forward.

In Cebolinha's place, it is likely that Bruno Henrique, recovered from injury, will take his place or Luis Araújo, who despite playing on the right, has also played some matches on the left wing.

Flamengo can lose by up to one goal and still qualify for the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores, but if they lose by two goals, their spot will be decided on penalties. If they lose by three goals or more, the Rio de Janeiro club will be eliminated from the international competition. It is now up to Tite to put together the team for Thursday's (21) game against Bolívar.

Featured Photo: Tite will have to put together a puzzle to assemble Flamengo for the next games (Reproduction/Wagner Meier/Getty Images Embed)