Flamengo Rule Out Léo Ortiz for São Paulo Match as Pedro Eyes Protected November Return

Overview

• Center back Léo Ortiz was medically vetoed due to a right ankle sprain and will not travel for Wednesday’s league game against São Paulo.
• Flamengo list seven absences for the fixture, with five injuries (Ortiz, Pedro, Jorginho, Éverton Cebolinha and Carrascal) and two suspensions (Evertton Araújo and Bruno Henrique).
• Pedro is progressing from an Oct. 22 right forearm fracture and the staff are evaluating a staged return using arm immobilization, with an internal target around Nov. 19 if he feels no discomfort.
• After Ortiz aggravated the injury when he played the Libertadores semifinal second leg against Racing, the club adopted a more conservative plan to preserve him for the final in Lima.
• With Ortiz out, Danilo is expected to partner Léo Pereira in central defense, pending Tuesday’s training decisions.