Flamengo's Defense Crumbles: Seven Goals in Four Games Threatens Title Hopes

Seven goals in four games. That’s not a fluke — it’s a collapse. The Flamengo, still top of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2025 with 71 points, is suddenly looking vulnerable in ways no one saw coming. After holding the league’s best defense through 30 matches — just 16 goals conceded — the Flamengo has unraveled in the final stretch, letting in seven goals between November 10 and 19, 2025. The result? They’ve been overtaken by Cruzeiro (22 goals conceded) as the league’s stingiest backline. And with four critical matches left before the Copa Libertadores da América 2025 final, this isn’t just a bad run — it’s a crisis.

From Impenetrable to Exposed

Through the first 30 rounds, Flamengo’s defense was the envy of Brazil. A compact, disciplined unit anchored by Danilo Araújo and Léo Pereira, they allowed just 0.53 goals per game. Then came the perfect storm: a packed schedule, player fatigue, and tactical fatigue. In the last four matches alone, they conceded: 1-0 to Fortaleza on November 10, 2-3 to Santos on November 13, 1-0 to Racing on November 16, and 1-2 to Fluminense on November 19 — the latter a brutal Clássico das Laranjeiras at the Estádio das Laranjeiras in Rio.

The numbers tell a grim story. Average goals conceded per game over those four matches: 1.75. Total goals conceded this season: 23. Their goal difference, once +32, is now +19. And they’ve slipped to seventh in defensive rankings among 20 teams. The worst part? It’s not just quantity — it’s pattern. Seven of the 23 goals conceded this season have come from set pieces. As coach Filipe Luís Scolfaro admitted after the Santos win, “We’re not organizing well on corners and free kicks. We know it. But with games every 2.8 days since October, there’s no time to drill fundamentals.”

Player Exhaustion and Tactical Chaos

The human cost is just as alarming. Danilo Araújo, 30, played against Santos on the 13th, then flew straight to São Paulo for the Racing match on the 16th — and started both. “I’ve never played two games in 24 hours,” he said after the Fluminense loss. “I came straight from the airport. It’s not an excuse. It’s reality. We’re all stretched thin.”

His partner in central defense, Léo Pereira, has played every minute of the last 32 games. Meanwhile, backup Léo Ortiz, 28, has been thrown into three of the last seven matches, with mixed results. In the four games with Danilo and Léo Pereira, Flamengo conceded five goals. In the three with Léo Pereira and Ortiz? Two more. The inconsistency isn’t just about personnel — it’s about system. The team switches between a flat back four and a slightly higher line depending on the opponent, but without consistent communication, the gaps widen.

Even Alex Sandro, the 29-year-old left-back, has been pulled into defensive emergencies. “It’s not just the backline,” he told reporters. “We’re all involved. But when you’re tired, you don’t recover mentally. You start thinking about the next game instead of the next pass.”

Why This Matters Beyond the Table

Flamengo isn’t just fighting for a league title — they’re preparing for the Copa Libertadores da América 2025 final. The continental crown is their ultimate goal. But how do you defend against Argentina’s River Plate or Colombia’s Atlético Nacional when you’re conceding from corners against Racing? The pressure is mounting. The team’s midfield — once a fortress of control — is now struggling to recover possession. The backline is reacting, not anticipating.

And the calendar doesn’t care. After facing Red Bull Bragantino on November 22 at the Maracanã, they travel to Recife for a tough clash with Sport Recife on the 26th. Then, back home for a rematch with Fluminense on the 30th — a game that could decide the title — followed by a season-defining visit to Belo Horizonte to face Atlético Mineiro on December 7.

What’s Next? The Clock Is Ticking

The club’s medical staff is now working overtime. Players are getting individual recovery protocols — cold baths, sleep monitoring, even psychological check-ins. But the real solution? Rest. And there isn’t any. The FIFA international window in late November has already drained squad depth. Backup defenders like Thiago Maia and Pedro Henrique are inexperienced in high-stakes matches. Scolfaro’s options are shrinking.

Analysts say the solution isn’t tactical overhauls — it’s discipline. “They need to stop trying to be heroes,” said former Brazil defender Lúcio in a recent interview. “When you’re tired, you hold your shape. You don’t chase the ball. You don’t gamble. You trust the system. Flamengo used to do that. Now they’re gambling every time.”

The irony? Flamengo’s attack is still lethal. With Gabriel Barbosa scoring in three of the last four games, they’ve kept winning — barely. But in football, you can’t win championships with luck. You need resilience. And right now, the defense is anything but.