Flamengo defeats Internacional at Maracanã and opens up an advantage in the round of 16 of the Libertadores

On a Libertadores night with a packed Maracanã, Flamengo beat Internacional 1-0 this Wednesday (13) and took the lead in the first leg of the round of XNUMX. Bruno Henrique, with a header, scored the red-black goal in the first half. Now, Mengão will have the advantage of a draw in the second leg to advance to the next stage in the continental competition. 

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The game

When the referee signaled the start of the match, Flamengo immediately went on the attack and was awarded a dangerous free kick just outside the box. Luiz Araújo went to take the free kick but sent it into the wall. In the opening minutes, Flamengo was the only team with possession, completely dominating the action. When Inter tried to play the ball out, Flamengo moved up the line and quickly regained possession. 

The first opportunity came in the 12th minute. Luiz Araújo received the ball wide on the right, cut inside, and fired a well-placed shot. Rochet stretched to make a beautiful save, palming it away. As time wore on, the game became fiercely contested in midfield, with both sides giving and taking chances. 

After searching for the goal for so long, Mengão opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Luiz Araújo took a corner kick into the six-yard box and Bruno Henrique rose unmarked to head the ball into the goalkeeper's right corner, sending the Nation into the Maraca's 1-0 lead. It was the striker's 103rd goal with the Sacred Mantle, his 30th being a header. 

With the advantage, the red-and-black team maintained its offensive momentum and continued to seek attack at every opportunity. In the 42nd minute, Luiz Araújo controlled a free kick inside the box and rolled it toward the half-moon. Allan arrived with a first-time shot, but his shot went over the Colorado goal. Flamengo completely overwhelmed their opponents in the first half and went into halftime with a well-deserved one-goal lead. 

After the break, Varela came on to replace Emerson Royal, who sprained his left ankle and had to be substituted. Needing to chase the result, Internacional pushed their lines forward and pressured the red-and-blacks' ball out. 

With Inter's change of heart, Flamengo no longer found it as easy to create chances as it had in the first half. In the 25th minute, Flamengo once again threatened Rochet's goal. Bruno Henrique received the ball at the edge of the box, adjusted, and took a shot. The ball went over the bar. 

During the match, Carrascal came on for Plata to make his Mengão debut. Samuel Lino came off to make way for Cebolinha, replacing him on the left wing. In the final minutes, Luiz Araújo picked up the rebound inside the box and sent a left-footed shot that Rochet saved well. 

Inter tried to put pressure on in stoppage time, but Fla managed to hold on and left the field with a 1-0 victory, which gives them the advantage of playing for a draw at Beira Rio to reach the quarterfinals of the Libertadores. 

Flamengo

Rossi; Emerson Royal (Varela), Leo Ortiz, Leo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Jorginho, Allan (Evertton Araujo) and Luiz Araujo; Plata (Carrascal), Samuel Lino (Everton Cebolinha) and Bruno Henrique (Pedro).
Coach: Filipe Luís.

International

Rochet; Aguirre, Vitão, Juninho and Bernabéi; Thiago Maia (Gustavo Prado), Alan Rodríguez (Bruno Henrique), Bruno Tabata (Richard) and Alan Patrick; Wesley (Vitinho) and Ricardo Mathias (Borré).
Technician: Roger Machado. 

Week's agenda

Mengão returns to the field next Sunday (17) to face Internacional again. This time, the duel will be at Beira Rio, at 18:30 pm, for the 20th round of the Brasileirão.

Technical sheet

Flamengo 1x0 Internacional – Conmebol Libertadores | Round of XNUMX | First leg
Location: Maracanã, RJ
Date and time: 13/08/2025 at 21:30 am
Refereeing: Dario Herrera (ARG), Gabriel Chade (ARG) and Facundo Rodríguez (ARG)
Yellow cards: Varela (FLA) and Gustavo (INT)
Goal: Bruno Henrique (27'1st half).