The final instalment of the Fla-Flu derby this season takes place on Thursday, as Flamengo host Fluminense from the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
A 2-0 victory over Bahia kept Flamengo in fourth in the Brasileiro Serie A table, while Fluzao climbed out of the relegation zone by defeating Cruzeiro 1-0 near the beginning of October.
Match preview
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It is early days for Filipe Luis as Flamengo manager, and things are encouraging thus far as his side boast a 100% record since he replaced Tite at the helm.
Known for his exceptional defending as a player, this team have looked very sharp defensively of late, without a goal conceded in four successive matches across all competitions.
Only six points currently separate them from Palmeiras in second, though Urubu have a game in hand on all three teams above them in the table.
Flamengo can win a third successive Serie A fixture on Thursday, equalling their longest domestic winning run of the 2024 season.
Since a 2-1 home defeat versus Fortaleza on matchday 16 of their domestic campaign, Flamengo have collected at least a point in six successive Brasileiro fixtures at the Maracana.
Mengao are unbeaten in their previous eight matches across all competitions versus Flu, posting four successive clean sheets against them.
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A side that have been continuously in the top half of the table, Fluzao have dropped off significantly during the 2024 campaign.
After 28 matchdays, Fluminense are on 30 points, just one more than Vitoria, with the latter currently in the final relegation spot.
On the plus side, though, Mano Menezes saw his side end a three-match domestic losing run with their victory over Cruzeiro, their first clean sheet in the competition since early September (2-0 over Sao Paulo).
Fluzao have lost three of their previous four league contests away from home, suffering a 1-0 defeat at Athletico Goianiense in their previous Serie A fixture as the visitors.
This season, they have failed to win seven times in the Brazilian top flight when scoring first, dropping 18 points as a result.
Not since September 2022 have they beaten Flamengo domestically as the visiting team at the Maracana, holding onto a 2-1 triumph on that occasion.
Team News
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An ACL injury will keep Pedro out of the Flamengo fold for the remainder of the campaign, Luiz Araujo is expected to return from a knee sprain in early November and Alex Sandro remains sidelined with tightness in his thighs.
Ayrton put them in front against Bahia before substitute Carlos Alcaraz put the game to bed, converting a penalty deep into second-half stoppage time.
In their previous encounter, Flu were without Ignacio because of a meniscus issue, Gustavo Nonato is still recovering from a broken nose and Kevin Serna has a thigh injury.
Jhon Arias fired home the only goal in a victory over Cruzeiro, giving him four in the Brasileiro Serie A campaign, while Fabio made five saves to preserve a clean sheet.
Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Rossi; Varela, Ortiz, Pereira, Ayrton; Pulgar, De la Cruz; Gerson, De Arrascaeta, Henrique; Barbosa
Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Fabio; Xavier, Manoel, Santos, Marcelo; Martinelli, Hugo; Arias, Ganso, Lima; Elias
We say: Flamengo 1-0 Fluminense
Flamengo seem to have bought into their new coaches' philosophy, and we believe their defensive structure will ultimately enable them to continue their winning ways.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
