Flamengo draws with Ceará at Castelão, but maintains leadership in the Brazilian Championship

Playing away from home, Flamengo drew 1-1 with Ceará on Sunday night (3), at Arena Castelão, in the 18th round of the Brasileirão. Arrascaeta scored the only goal for the red-black team in the first half. Even with the draw, Mengão remains in the lead of the championship with 37 points, the same score as second-placed Cruzeiro. 

Turning the key, Mais Querido will face Atlético-MG next Wednesday (6), at Arena MRV, for the return leg of the round of XNUMX of the Copa do Brasil. To advance to the next stage, Rubro-Negro needs to win by two goals. If they win by one, the dispute for the spot will go to penalties. 

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The game

In the opening moments of the match, Flamengo dominated the attacking half, exchanging passes near Ceará's box. The red-and-black team's first good attacking move came in the 10th minute. Arrascaeta fed Plata on the left, who cut inside and fired a shot. Bruno Ferreira jumped to the right and palmed the ball away for a corner. 

Five minutes later, Samuel Lino arrived well on the left and crossed into the middle of the box. Bruno Henrique followed up with a first-time shot, but the ball went high and went out for a goal kick. As the game progressed, the Mais Querido continued to dominate possession and exchange passes in the attacking half to open up the Ceará defense. 

Then, in the 36th minute, Mengão opened the scoring at Castelão! Léo Ortiz played a good pass to Plata in the box, who headed it to Arrascaeta. The number 10 was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and finished with his left foot to make it 1-0. The first half ended with Flamengo prevailing and leading the score. 

After the break, Saúl came on for Arrascaeta. Flamengo continued to control possession in the attacking half, trying to extend their lead. In the eighth minute, Saúl provided a good pass to Samuel Lino, who fired a powerful shot into the corner, but the goalkeeper saved it. In the 20th minute, Alex Sandro delivered a good through ball to Plata, who outpaced him and fired a powerful shot that Bruno Ferreira saved.

The next play tied the score for Ceará. Lucas Mugni took a corner kick into the box, and Pedro Raul rose above the red-and-black defense and headed the ball into the corner: 1-1. After the equalizer, the red-and-black team continued to dominate possession but struggled to break into Ceará's box. 

In the final minutes, the game was open, with both teams searching for the winning goal. In the final play of stoppage time, Flamengo conceded a dangerous free kick just outside the box. Léo Pereira took the shot, but the ball went over the bar. The match ended in a draw at Castelão.  

Flamengo

Rossi; Emerson Royal (Varela), Leo Ortiz, Leo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Jorginho (Allan), Evertton Araujo and Arrascaeta (Saul); Plata (Victor Hugo), Samuel Lino and Bruno Henrique (Juninho).
Coach: Filipe Luís.

Ceará

Bruno Ferreira; Fabiano Souza, Marllon, Willian Machado and Matheus Bahia (Nicolas); Richardson (Fernando Sobral), Lourenço (Lucas Mugni) and Dieguinho (Lucas Lima); Pedro Henrique (Aylon), Galeano and Pedro Raul.
Coach: Léo Condé. 

Week's agenda

Mais Querido returns to the field next Wednesday (6) to face Atlético-MG, at 19 pm, at Arena MRV, for the second leg of the round of XNUMX of the Copa do Brasil. 

Technical sheet

Ceará 1x1 Flamengo – Brazilian Championship | 18th Round
Location: Arena Castelão, Fortaleza (CE)
Date and time: 03/08/2025 at 18:30 am
Refereeing: Rodrigo Jose Pereira de Lima (PE), Neuza Ines Back (SP) and Francisco Chaves Bezerra Junior (PE)
Yellow cards: Marllon (CEA), Richardson (CEA), Jorginho (FLA), Bruno Henrique (FLA) and Fernando Sobral (CEA)
Goals: Arrascaeta (36'1st half) and Pedro Raul (21'2nd half).