Flamengo confirmed that midfielder Lucas Paquetá will be absent from the team in the next matches due to a physical problem detected after the victory over Bahia. The number 20 underwent image tests on Sunday night, shortly after leaving the Maracanã pitch complaining of muscle pain. The results showed edema in the tendon of the left thigh, ruling out any more serious injury or impact on the athlete’s knee.
The expectation of the red-black medical department is that the recovery period will be around ten days. The player has already started intensive treatment at Urubu’s Ninho training center to accelerate the tissue healing process. Paquetá scored the second goal in the 2-0 victory against the Bahians before reporting the discomfort that generated immediate concern in the technical committee led by Tite.
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Jogos affected by the absence of number 20
Lucas Paquetá’s absence comes at a time when the schedule is tight for the Rio club. The Rio team will have commitments for two different competitions next week. Initial planning works with the midfielder’s absence in two confirmed clashes, while his recovery will dictate the pace for subsequent international duels.
The list of expected absences includes:
- Vitória, for the first round of Copa from Brasil (Wednesday);
- Atlético-MG, by Campeonato Brasileiro (weekend);
- Estudiantes, through the group stage against Libertadores (doubt);
- Vasco from Gama, by Campeonato Brasileiro (return prediction).
The absence against the Bahian team in Copa of Brasil is seen as a significant loss, as the knockout tournament begins its most acute phase. The coach will need to look for alternatives in the squad to maintain the dynamics of the creative sector that had been working with Paquetá.
Planejamento returns and focuses on Libertadores
The Flamengo technical committee has drawn up a cautious schedule for the athlete to recover his best physical condition without risk of worsening. The main focus is to have the player in the decisive duel against Estudiantes, scheduled for April 29th. Caso the edema does not regress as expected in the initial period of ten days, the definitive return will be postponed until the classic against Vasco, on May 3rd.
The diagnosis of edema is considered positive news within the context of a possible more serious muscle injury. In edema, there is only an accumulation of fluid and swelling in the region, without the rupture of muscle fibers that characterizes grade 2 or 3 strain. Isso allows the transition to the field to occur more quickly as soon as the discomfort disappears.
Impacto on Flamengo’s undefeated streak
Flamengo is going through its best moment in the 2026 season so far, accumulating five consecutive victories in all competitions. The team is second to Campeonato Brasileiro with 23 points, six less than Palmeiras, although the team from São Paulo has one more game in the table. Paquetá has been a fundamental part of this gear, acting both in setting up and finishing plays.
The midfielder’s numbers explain the red-black fans’ concern. Além of the goal scored against Bahia in the 34th minute of the second half, he had been leading the assists and decisive passes statistics in the month of April. The team’s defensive solidity, combined with the efficiency of the attack, put the club in a position to fight for all the titles in the first half of the year. Sem the starter, the immediate replacement must be defined after tactical training this Tuesday.