Flamengo Win at Altitude as Botafogo Stumble in Franclim Carvalho’s Debut

Overview

• Flamengo opened its Libertadores group with a 2-0 win in Cusco on Thursday, with goals from Bruno Henrique and Giorgian de Arrascaeta.
• To blunt the 3,400-meter altitude, the champions used a pressurized hotel, limited time in the city, and oxygen cylinders for players in the stadium.
• The Spanish newspaper AS condemned the refereeing in the match, citing a missed red card for Gonzalo Plata and a disputed offside that canceled a Cusco goal after a lengthy VAR review.
• Botafogo began the Sudamericana under new coach Franclim Carvalho with a 1-1 home draw against Caracas on Thursday, after Wilfred Correa scored and Arthur Cabral equalized.
• Carvalho said the attack lacked bite and must improve, a warning that lands as he becomes Botafogo’s ninth coach of the SAF era and visits Racing next week with only one point from the group opener.