Flamengo vs. Santos – News and Probable Lineups

On Sunday, April 5, Flamengo will host Santos at the Maracanã for their tenth match in the Brasileirão, a crucial outing for the defending champions as they aim to bounce back in front of their home crowd.

Santos, on the other hand, will make the journey to Rio de Janeiro without Neymar, who is serving a suspension due to three yellow cards, although they come off a morale-boosting victory, with Gabigol’s encounter against his former team adding an emotional layer to the clash, a fixture known for its high scorelines.

Match overview

The 3-0 defeat to Red Bull Bragantino in the previous round was a significant setback for a Flamengo team that was showing improvement under Leonardo Jardim.

Before that defeat, the Rio de Janeiro side had been on an unbeaten run since their Recopa Sudamericana final against Lanús in February, going six matches without a loss, which included four consecutive victories in the Brasileirão.

The situation worsened after Pulgar was shown a red card early in the second half, ending any hopes of a comeback.

Despite this disappointment, Flamengo’s overall performance remains robust. Currently sitting in sixth place with 14 points from eight games, they still have a game in hand over many of their competitors.

The total of 13 goals scored highlights their attacking prowess, but the gap to league leaders Palmeiras has grown to eight points, placing additional pressure on them to respond quickly.

Leonardo Jardim, who took over in early March following Filipe Luís’s departure, has rejuvenated the team’s performances with strong wins against Cruzeiro, Botafogo, and Remo, alongside a draw at Corinthians.

However, the defeat against Bragantino has revealed some psychological vulnerabilities and a reliance on key players. At the Maracanã, Flamengo will aim to regain their best form, supported by a favorable historical record against Santos and a capacity crowd.

Meanwhile, Santos find themselves in a more favorable position, albeit with ongoing concerns.

The 2-0 win against Remo at Vila Belmiro marked the end of a winless streak that lasted over a month and was Cuca’s first victory since his return to the club.

This victory propelled Santos out of the relegation zone and into 13th place with a total of ten points.

Nonetheless, their statistics for the season raise concerns, with only two wins, four draws, and three losses from nine matches, having scored 12 goals and conceded 13, indicating mixed results.

Their away form has been particularly poor; Santos have yet to secure an away victory in this Brasileirão season.

Neymar’s absence is a notable setback for Cuca. The star, who had been pivotal in the attack and contributed an assist during the win against Remo, will miss this match due to a one-game ban from accumulating yellow cards. In addition, Rony’s absence compounds the challenge for the manager, who will need to devise new attacking strategies for the trip to the Maracanã.

The return of Gabigol is a significant glimmer of hope for Santos. The forward, who missed the last match due to a right calf swelling, has resumed full training and is expected to be fit. If he plays, it will be at a stadium where he enjoyed some of the best moments of his career, this time in the colors of the rival team.

The history between Flamengo and Santos showcases a fierce rivalry. Out of 117 encounters, Flamengo has secured 45 wins to Santos’ 43, with 29 matches ending in draws. Their latest meeting in the 2025 Brasileirão saw Flamengo triumph 3-2, reinforcing the trend for high-scoring matches in their contests.

Team News

Flamengo will be missing several key players on Sunday. Midfielder Pulgar is suspended after receiving a red card for violent conduct against Bragantino, having hit Sant’Anna in the face, a decision confirmed by VAR.

In the treatment room, Spanish midfielder Saul is still recovering from heel surgery, while Alex Sandro is dealing with thigh muscle issues, and Bruno Henrique also remains unavailable.

On a positive note for Leonardo Jardim, players who were rested during the last match due to the international break are expected to return. Full-back Varela, center-back Léo Pereira, and midfielder Arrascaeta — all of whom missed the trip to Bragança Paulista — are likely to be back in the starting lineup at the Maracanã, bringing back quality that was sorely missed. De la Cruz, who came on in the second half against Bragantino, is the most probable candidate to replace Pulgar in midfield.

Santos, on the other hand, are facing significant challenges in their attack. Both Neymar and Rony are unavailable due to suspensions from yellow card accumulations.

The injury list also includes several notable names: Gabriel Menino is sidelined with a right hamstring injury, while Vinicius Lira has suffered a serious knee injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Mayke is also out due to complications from corticosteroid treatment.

Gabigol, however, has trained properly on Friday and is anticipated to be included in Cuca’s squad. The forward, who did not appear against Remo due to calf swelling, is a crucial candidate to fill in for the missing attackers. This match holds special significance for the No. 9, who spent several unforgettable years at the Maracanã wearing Flamengo’s colors. The match will be officiated by Anderson Daronco.

Flamengo probable starting XI:

Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, Ayrton Lucas; Jorginho, De la Cruz; Paquetá, Arrascaeta, Samuel Lino; Pedro. Manager: Leonardo Jardim.

Santos probable starting XI:

Gabriel Brazão; Igor Vinícius, Lucas Verissimo, Luan Peres, Escobar; Oliva, Gustavo Henrique, Rollheiser; Barreal, Thaciano, Moisés. Manager: Cuca.

With Arrascaeta, Léo Pereira, and Varela all returning, Flamengo is strengthened by the comeback of essential players, while a full Maracanã is expected to energize them as they aim to recover from the setback in Bragança Paulista.

Conversely, Santos travel without Neymar and Rony, still in search of their first away win in the Brasileirão, which suggests they may struggle to match Flamengo’s quality — even with Gabigol back in the mix.