Analysis: strategic and lethal, Flamengo lures Del Valle into a trap and pays with victory and vacancy | Flamengo

Flamengo had an intelligent performance from the first minute, and Independiente del Valle fell into the trap of Jordi Guerrero. The three men up front cast a shadow when marking the ball and let the defenders exchange passes without much pressure to the big circle. From there, they faced a solid opponent on defense.

Well adjusted, Flamengo stole the ball and finished off with great speed. Vertical, it explored the spaces in the back of those defenders who had the field to advance until they were effectively pressured. Del Valle had the ball, Flamengo had the aggressiveness. And that was the whole game.

As in the exit from Quito, the Ecuadorians were in danger of kicking from the entrance to the area. The Brazilians, on the other hand, had a repertoire and the tuning of the trio of strikers who moved without hitting their heads and gave Arrascaeta passes an option.

Gabriel and Lincoln felt comfortable on the sides, while Pedro was generous and opened spaces for the infiltration of his companions. This is how Lincoln took advantage of Matheuzinho’s clear advance, closed in the middle and opened the scoring.

At a disadvantage, Del Valle pitched even more and offered more spaces. It wasn’t long before the second goal faithfully represented Flamengo’s successful strategy. Stolen from Lincoln’s ball, Thiago Maia’s first shot, taken from Gabriel in that empty space that we already mentioned and Pedro’s goal.

As much as the Ecuadorians had more ball possession (68% x 32%) and more submissions (21 x 13), they faced a defensive line all under 20 years of age, but safe and well placed. Natan and Noga did the job and opened doors on a stage where Gustavo Henrique and Léo Pereira cannot settle.

On the wings, Matheuzinho and Ramon were balanced defensively and offensively. If the assistance for the first goal came from the right, from the left came an exquisite pass to Arrascaeta in the second half. Bruno Henrique, who took the place of the injured Gabigol, made the rebound and began the private change with Pinos.

It was in a split with the goalkeeper that the forward injured his knee in February, in the first Cup Winners’ Cup game, and lost part of the season. In the final stretch of the game, Arrascaeta returned to explore those spaces in Del Valle’s defense so that Bruno Henrique would leave Pinos behind and the bad phase and decree: 4 to 0. Final result.