Danilo & Flamengo’s Copa Libertadores Win | Football News

This Saturday, Flamengo won the fourth Copa Libertadores in its history, after beating compatriots Palmeiras (1-0) in the final played in Lima, Peru. All thanks to a goal from Danilo, a well-known full-back in Portuguese football who scored the only goal of the match.

It was an issue to be resolved between Brazilians, who have dominated South American football in recent years. In 2022, Flamengo had won the competition for the last time, a year after Palmeiras won the trophy for the third time. In that sense, tied for the Libertadores record, this game was a kind of showdown.

“Mengão”, in 4x2x3x1, always had more initiative and, even in a first half without clear chances of goals, they were more dangerous in the last third, especially because De Arrascaeta – who reached 350 games and became abroad with more games for the club – managed to lead the game with some freedom.

On the opposite side, Abel Ferreira seemed to have prepared Palmeiras to feel minimally comfortable without the ball, taking the initiative from the opponent, on the assumption that they could exploit a quick transition to create danger. But, strictly speaking, neither Allan nor Vítor Roque were activated in the best way.

In the 30th minute, a recklessness of this magnitude from Erick Pulgar could have cost him a red card. With the game already stopped, the Flamengo midfielder had a sole tackle on Bruno Fuchs’ shin, but “survived” with a yellow card. A move that prompted strong protests from the “Verdão” bench, at a time when the team was already trying to press higher.

As had happened in 2021, the final between Palmeiras and Flamengo reached half-time without a goal. And the most threatening player who returned from the locker room was Flamengo, who only failed to take the lead in the 52nd minute because Gustavo Gómez blocked a play between Bruno Henrique and De Arrascaeta.

The Uruguayan midfielder would be instrumental in the 67th minute, however. Corner kick in favor of Flamengo, ball passed to the edge of the small area and Danilo, with remarkable impulsion power, jumped unopposed to head the ball into the goal. At 34 years old, the full-back who made a name for himself playing for FC Porto, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Juventus left his mark in the final – it was his second goal in these travels, after having scored for Santos against Peñarol in 2011.

Filipe Luís, coach of “Mengão”, then refreshed the left corridor by replacing Samuel Lino with Everton “Cebolinha”, but it was Palmeiras who started to control the operations, taking a greater risk, with more direct football looking for references in the area and second balls.

With Felipe Anderson and Facundo Torres on the field, Palmeiras were pushing, but Abel Ferreira took a little more risk by launching Ramón Sosa and Agustín Giay, giving up the initial 3x1x4x2 to opt for a 4x4x2. Anderson didn’t last long and ended up being replaced by Maurício, two minutes before Vítor Roque had the best opportunity to equalize – in the small area, he shot and saw Danilo deflect the ball.

In the final moments of the game, fans (of both teams) still held their heads in their hands when Everton, with the help of Carlos Miguel, hit the ball against the goal post, but the result was sealed. For the fourth time, Flamengo became champions of the Libertadores, which since the final is played as a single game only once (out of seven) ended with a margin greater than one goal.