On Friday, October 18, the iconic Maracanã Stadium will be the stage for a thrilling derby between Flamengo and Fluminense in the 30th round of the Brazilian Serie A. Sportsmacro‘s analysts have crafted a preview along with betting predictions for this eagerly awaited matchup.
Flamengo
At the start of the season, Flamengo was viewed as a top contender for the Brazilian Serie A title. However, their chances now seem distant. After 29 rounds, they sit in fourth place, nine points behind league leaders Botafogo, although they do have a game in hand.
Entering the derby against Fluminense, Flamengo comes off two consecutive Serie A victories. They recently defeated Bahia 2-0 and narrowly won against Atlético Paranaense 1-0, but these successes followed a three-match winless streak.
In a surprising turn, Flamengo was eliminated from the Copa Libertadores in the quarterfinals, losing 0-1 at home to Peñarol after a goalless draw in the first leg.
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Fluminense
Fluminense made history last season by winning the Copa Libertadores for the first time, earning a spot in this year’s main tournament despite finishing seventh in the Brazilian Serie A. However, like Flamengo, their Libertadores journey ended in the quarterfinals, where they were defeated by Atlético Mineiro.
Alongside Corinthians, Fluminense has been one of the season’s biggest disappointments in Serie A. The “Tricolor” started poorly, spending much of the season near the bottom of the table, though their form has shown some improvement. They currently sit in 16th place, just one point above the relegation zone, still very much in the fight to avoid dropping.
In their last match, Fluminense secured a narrow 1-0 victory at home against Cruzeiro, but that win came after three straight defeats.
Key Facts about the match
- Betting on under 2.5 goals has proven successful in four of Fluminense’s last five matches.
- Meanwhile, Flamengo remains unbeaten in their last six home games.
Probable Lineups
- Flamengo: Rossi; Varela, Ortiz, Pereira, Ayrton; Pulgar, De la Cruz; Gerson, De Arrascaeta, Henrique; Barbosa
- Fluminense: Fabio; Xavier, Manoel, Santos, Marcelo; Martinelli, Hugo; Arias, Ganso, Lima; Elias
Head-to-Head (H2H)
Fluminense has struggled to defeat Flamengo in their last eight encounters, with Flamengo winning the derby 1-0 in the 11th round of the current season.
Flamengo vs Fluminense Prediction
In the last eight derbies between Flamengo and Fluminense, the Under 2.5 goals bet has been a winning one. I believe this trend will carry on in this match.
