Fluminense continues its preparations for the next round of the Brazilian championship. The ball is rolling in the classic match against Flamengo on Thursday (17th), at 20:00 in Brasilia, at the Maracana, and coach Mano Menezes will have to make changes. Two can happen in the defensive system – one is already secure – and the other in the attacking position.
Starters in the 1-0 win over Cruzeiro in Serie A Marcelo and Keno received third yellow cards, falling victim to suspension. Up front, the natural alternative would be Kevin Serna, but the player has a muscle injury in his left thigh and is out. Thus, the tendency is for Diogo Barbosa to enter the defense, and a trio is fighting for the remaining place: John Kennedy, Marquinhos and Lima.
The biggest question mark is still at the heart of Fluminense’s defence. That’s because Thiago Silva continues treatment for pain in the heel of his left foot at CT Carlos Castilho. The captain is missing from the second leg of the Libertadores quarter-finals against Atlético-MG in Belo Horizonte. If unable to play against Flamengo, Manoel is likely to continue alongside Thiago Santos.
