"Won the battle": Saúl praised as Flamengo reach Libertadores | OneFootball

Spanish midfielder makes Libertadores debut this Wednesday (20)

Flamengo secured a spot in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals this Wednesday (20), defeating Internacional 2-0 at Beira-Rio and closing the tie with a 3-0 aggregate score. Midfielder Saúl was one of the standout players, commanding the actions in the midfield in his debut in the continental competition.

The international press echoed the player's performance, with the Spanish newspaper 'AS' highlighting his decisive performance and the correct bet by Filipe Luís in the lineup. Even though he was not in the starting lineup for the first leg, Saúl took on a leading role and was the 'key piece' in the team's dominance in the second leg.

"Saúl wins the war! The Spanish midfielder gave his best minutes since arriving in Brazil and dominated the game in a sensational second half. Flamengo advances to the quarterfinals. Saúl didn't play a single minute in the first leg, but was a starter a few days later in the Brasileirão, also against Internacional, and this time was Filipe Luís' big bet to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. The Spanish midfielder responded in the best way possible and showed his experience and competence," the newspaper wrote.

IS SAÚL ALREADY A 'KEY PIECE' IN FLAMENGO'S MIDFIELD?

After a long career in European football, Saúl was announced as Flamengo's reinforcement in July 2025. This Wednesday (20), the Spanish midfielder made his first appearance in the Libertadores and did not disappoint. With a secure posture, the number 8 showed surprising chemistry with his teammates and stood out for his refined technique, vision, and tactical intelligence.

The consistency shown by Saúl since his arrival at the club has impressed the coaching staff. Filipe Luís, for example, highlighted the quick connection between the new reinforcement and Jorginho. For the coach, the partnership between the two has been fundamental to the team's balance on the field.

WHEN IS FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME?

After shining in the Libertadores, Saúl remains available for Flamengo's next commitment. Therefore, the Rio de Janeiro team returns to the field on Monday (25), at 9 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, where they face Vitória in the 21st round of the Brazilian Championship. The match will be broadcast on Premiere (pay-per-view).

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