Santos – Flamengo: Neymar returns from injury for the thousandth time and sees the team react after his substitution (3-2)

Aiming for the leadership of the Brasileirão, Flamengo faced and defeated Santos 3-2 at Maracanã, in a match that marked yet another return of Neymar from injury, valid for Matchday 33. The result made Filipe Luis’s team tie on points with Palmeiras, and another poor performance from Neymar fills the fans, not only from Santos but also from Brazil and from the player himself, with doubts.

Tactical analysis and match report by Marcus Arboés.

In the race for the Brasileirão title, Filipe Luis fielded his best possible Flamengo, still without Léo Ortiz, Jorginho, and Pedro. The team was set up in a 4-2-3-1 outline that formed a 3-2-5 positional shape when attacking. In goal, the Argentine Rossi; in defense: Varela (Uruguay National Team), Danilo (former Juventus), Léo Pereira, and Ayrton Lucas; the holding midfielders: Pulgar (former Chile National Team) and De La Cruz (former Uruguay National Team); in front, Arrascaeta (Uruguay) inside, Carrascal (Colombia National Team) on the right, and Samuel Lino (former Atleti) also on the right; Bruno Henrique started as center forward.

To receive one of the best teams in the league, in the country, and on the continent, while fighting relegation, Vojvoda counted on the return of Neymar, perhaps his thousandth comeback from injury in the last two years. His team was lined up in a 4-3-3 outline with three holding midfielders, two wingers, and Neymar as a false nine. Brazão (former Internazionale) in goal; Igor Vinícius, Zé Ivaldo, Luan Peres, and Souza in the back line; Arão, João Schmidt, and Zé Rafael in midfield; Barreal, Guilherme, and Neymar in . . .