Filipe Luís: Flamengo lost focus against Ceará, dropped our level

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Coluna do Fla

·4 agosto 2025

Filipe Luís: Flamengo lost focus against Ceará, dropped our level

Although it came out ahead against Ceará, Flamengo gave up the tie

Flamengo drew 1-1 with Ceará on Sunday (03), in Fortaleza, for the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship. Even playing away from home, the Red-Black team dominated the actions in the first half and took the lead on the scoreboard. However, in the final stage, the team lost intensity and allowed the opponent to tie. After the match, coach Filipe Luís pointed out the lack of concentration as a determining factor for the final result.

About possession, Ceará chose not to press and wait in the middle and low block, trying to counter-attack. We tried to neutralize this in the first half and create chances that we could have depending on the spaces we had in the very closed block," he said, before adding:

— It's more complicated to find spaces in a compact and closed block, but we still managed to create chances. In the second half, we lowered our concentration a lot and had difficulties," Filipe Luís concluded in the post-game press conference.

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WAS FLAMENGO SUPERIOR ON THE FIELD?

Yes. Flamengo controlled the main actions of the match, according to data from the statistical site 'Sofascore'. The Red-Black team maintained 69% of possession, against only 31% of Ceará, in addition to finishing more times: 14 against 9. However, despite the clear dominance, the team was unable to transform the superiority into goals and allowed the opponent to tie in the second half.

WHEN IS FLAMENGO'S NEXT COMMITMENT?

Now, Flamengo is fully focused on the Copa do Brasil. This Wednesday (06), the team visits Atlético-MG at Arena MRV, in Belo Horizonte, for the return match of the round of 16. As they lost the first leg 1-0 at Maracanã, the Red-Black team needs to win by two goals to secure a direct spot in the quarterfinals. If they win by just one goal, the decision will go to penalties.

In the face of this scenario, the team led by Filipe Luís needs to increase effectiveness in attack and turn the volume of play into goals. The pressure is great, and the confrontation is decisive for the team's path in the knockout competition. Thus, as always, the Coluna do Fla follows everything closely and keeps the fan well informed about every detail.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.