🇧🇷 Flamengo secure narrow Cariocão win over Botafogo | OneFootball

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In a postponed match of the seventh round of Cariocão 2025, Flamengo defeated Botafogo 1-0 at Maracanã, on Wednesday (12).

The coaches adopted opposing "strategies" for the classic.

While Filipe Luís spared the starters in Rubro-Negro, interim Carlos Leiria sent almost the full strength to the field.

The initial stage was too hot - and we're not talking about the high temperatures that have been happening in Rio de Janeiro in recent days.

Excessive fouls and even some small confusion marked the first 45 minutes at the Maior do Mundo.

Flamengo was better in the first half, including the best chance of the game, but John defended Juninho's finish.

The Rubro-Negro striker, a reinforcement for the 2025 season, left before the 15th minute with an injury. In the previous game, Alex Sandro was the one who left the game with a physical problem.

The big controversy of the initial stage was De La Cruz's elbow to Matheus Martins, but the arbitration only gave a yellow card to the Uruguayan from Flamengo.

After the interval, Rubro-Negro didn't take long to open the scoring. Arrascaeta took a free kick in the area, Danilo headed it, and Léo Ortiz (9') appeared as a center-forward to push it into the goal.

After a series of substitutions, Botafogo improved on the field and almost managed to equalize, when Igor Jesus headed Cuiabano's cross from the left, but Varela (28') cleared it off the line.

🚦 How it stands

With the second victory in the classic in 10 days (the first was 3-1 in the Brazilian Supercup, on 02/02), Flamengo reached 17 points and took the lead in Cariocão 2025.

Volta Redonda has the same score, but a lower goal difference (13 x 1).

Botafogo remained with 12 points and in sixth place, i.e., outside the semifinals, which would still have Vasco (14 points) and Sampaio Corrêa (13 points).

The Glorious team returns to the field on Saturday (15), when they visit Boavista, in Bacaxá, for the penultimate round of the state tournament.

Rubro-Negro will play the classic against Vasco, at Maracanã, on the same day.

📸 Buda Mendes - 2025 Getty Images