Separated by just two points near the top of the Campeonato Brasileiro, Rio rivals Fluminense and Flamengo will battle it out for victory at the Maracana on Sunday.
The latest Fla–Flu derby takes place with the hosts trailing their cross-city counterparts in the Serie A standings, with both also into the last 16 of this year's Copa Libertadores.
Match preview
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Further improving their position in the Brasileiro pecking order, Fluminense prepared for one of the most anticipated dates on their calendar by beating fellow top-six contenders Internacional last week.
Going into the game, Flu boss Fernando Diniz had just been named Brazil's interim coach until 2024, and his side were aiming to recover after seeing a four-match unbeaten streak ended by Sao Paulo.
Thanks to first-half strikes from German Cano and Matheus Martinelli, they did just that, and victory helped the Tricolor up to fourth in the table - only two points shy of second-placed Flamengo.
In addition to their improving domestic form, Flu's latest attempt at winning the Copa Libertadores continued with last month's qualification from the group phase, and at the start of August they will meet Argentinos Juniors in the first knockout round.
This year, Diniz has already led Fluminense to the 2023 Campeonato Carioca - beating Flamengo 4-3 in a two-legged final - after finishing third in the top flight in 2022.
Since being hired as a part-time stop-gap by the CBF until next year's Copa America, he has been pitted against two men with significant experience of international football: ex-Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari's Inter were taken care of last time out, and now Diniz locks horns with a former Argentina coach of some renown.
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While his opposite number will oversee Brazil's Selecao for the next few months, Jorge Sampaoli was once at the helm of arch-rivals Argentina, before events at Russia 2018 saw him replaced by Lionel Scaloni and he eventually made his way to Rio de Janeiro.
Sampaoli's Flamengo side posted a 1-1 draw in their most recent league fixture against Palmeiras, then extended their unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions by beating Athletico Paranaense in the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals.
Fla had already eliminated Fluminense from the cup last month, when - after a goalless first leg at the Maracana - they won 2-0 on aggregate due to a hard-fought victory in the return.
Now into the last four of a competition in which they are defending champions, the Rubo-Negro have ambitions of claiming an incredible treble this year, as they also await a last-16 Copa Libertadores tie with Olimpia and are riding high in the Campeonato Brasileiro.
Having now won eight of their last 10 league matches, Flamengo are certainly running into their best form of the campaign, although runaway leaders Botafogo have built up a 10-point advantage and will take some stopping.
Team News
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Fluminense will have to make at least one change to a winning team this weekend, as Keno is sidelined by suspension; the winger apparently wept in the dressing room as he contemplated sitting out the Fla-Flu classic.
Coach Fernando Diniz - who has been sent off four times himself this year, but will be in the Maracana dugout for the derby - does have several new signings to call upon, though, including Uruguayan midfielder Leo Fernandez. Centre-back Marlon recently re-joined the club from Shakhtar Donetsk via a loan with Monza but now serves a suspension picked up in Italy's Serie A.
Another recent arrival, Diogo Barbosa, is not yet available, so former Real Madrid man Marcelo should continue at left-back, while two more experienced stars, Paulo Henrique Ganso (plantar fasciitis) and Felipe Melo (knee), have both overcome injury concerns and returned to training.
Flamengo have been busy in the transfer market too, and after announcing the termination of Arturo Vidal's contract, new boys Luiz Araujo, Allan and Agustin Rossi are all set to be included in Sunday's squad.
Gerson was sent off during stoppage time in Fla's midweek cup win, but the ex-Marseille midfielder is still expected to start at the Maracana; Erick Pulgar returns following a one-match ban.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Barbosa returned to the lineup on Wednesday after recovering from an ankle problem and will likely start up front for the Rubo-Negro once again.
Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Fabio; Xavier, Melo, Nino, Marcelo; Lima, Martinelli; Kennedy, Ganso, Lele; Cano
Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Cunha; Franca, Bruno, Luiz, Ayrton; Maia, Pulgar, Gerson; E. Ribeiro, Barbosa, De Arrascaeta
We say: Fluminense 1-1 Flamengo
As Fluminense are unbeaten at home in this year's Brasileiro, having conceded just four times in seven games, even free-scoring Flamengo will find it tough to break down such a well-organised and motivated side. While Fla boast the league's best attack - scoring at a rate of nearly two goals per game - they may ultimately have to settle for a derby draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
