Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s Copa do Brasil clash between Flamengo and Palmeiras, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Flamengo and Palmeiras return to action in the Copa do Brasil when they square off in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash on Wednesday.
While Tite’s men are currently firing on all cylinders, the Verdao have suffered a slump in form and will journey to the Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho looking to secure a huge first-leg advantage.
Match preview
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Flamengo continued their charge for an eighth Brasileiro Serie A title at the weekend as they picked up a comfortable 2-0 victory over bottom dwellers Atletico Goianiense when the teams met at the Estadio do Maracana.
Pedro continued his red-hot form in front of goal as he opened the scoring in the 19th minute to put the hosts in front before Uruguayan international Giorgian De Arrascaeta doubled the lead with a 61st-minute strike.
Flamengo have now won three games on the bounce, scoring six goals and conceding twice, and are unbeaten in six of their last seven matches, claiming five wins and one draw since late June.
With 40 points from 19 matches, Tite’s men currently lead the way at the top of the Serie A standings, level on points with second-placed Botafogo, albeit with one game in hand.
Flamengo now take a break from league action as they turn their sights to the Copa do Brasil, where they kicked off their quest for a fifth title with a 2-0 aggregate victory over Amazonas in May.
Pedro’s 20th-minute strike was enough to hand the Rubro-Negro a 1-0 win in the first leg on May 2, three weeks before they beat the Serie B side by the same scoreline at the Arena da Amazonia.
Flamengo head into Wednesday’s clash unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 home matches across all competitions — picking up nine wins and one draw — with a 2-1 loss against Fortaleza on July 12 being the exception.
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Palmeiras, on the other hand, were made to work their socks off in the opening round of the Copa do Brasil as they picked up a 2-1 aggregate victory over Botafogo SP in May.
They needed a 98th-minute strike from teenage sensation Estavao to snatch a last-gasp 2-1 win in the first leg on May 3 before playing out a goalless draw in the return leg at the Estadio Santa Cruz three weeks later.
In the league, Palmeiras have struggled to grind out results in recent weeks and were condemned to a 2-0 defeat by 10-man Vitoria at the Allianz Parque on Saturday.
Abel Ferreira’s men have now lost three of their most recent four Serie A matches, failing to find the back of the net in those three games, having suffered only three defeats in 21 matches preceding this run.
The recent drop-off in form has been owing to struggles on their travels as the Verdao have failed to win their last four away games, picking up just one point from a possible 12 in the Serie A, where they are currently third in the table.
While Palmeiras will be looking to end this poor run on Wednesday and take a first-leg advantage home, they are without a win in any of their last eight away games against Flamengo, losing five and claiming three draws since a 2-1 win in June 2016.
Flamengo Copa do Brasil form:
Flamengo form (all competitions):
Palmeiras Copa do Brasil form:
Palmeiras form (all competitions):
Team News
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Flamengo will take to the pitch without the services of Bruno Henrique, who was forced off with an ankle injury midway through the game against Cuiaba on July 7.
Pedro has been a standout performer for the Rubro-Negro this season and the 27-year-old, who has 10 goals and five assists in 19 league appearances, will be one to look out for.
As for Palmeiras, Ferreira will be unable to name Uruguayan defender Joaquin Piquerez, who has missed each of the last three matches after picking up a knee injury.
Murilo Cerqueira has missed the Verdao’s last two matches coming off with a sprained knee against Cruzeiro on July 21 and the defender is also ruled out of Wednesday’s games.
They are joined on the club’s injury table by 27-year-old forward Bruno Rodrigues, who continues his long road to full fitness after sustaining a knee injury back in January.
Flamengo possible starting lineup:Cunha; Varela, Ortiz, Luiz, Lucas; Pulgar, Gerson, De Arrascaeta; Araujo, Pedro, Everton
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:Lomba; Giay, Reis, Naves, Paulista; Rios, Menino, Mauricio; Dudu, Rony, Lazaro
We say: Flamengo 2-1 Palmeiras
Palmeiras have struggled for results on their travels and will need to be at their best against a Flamengo who have put together a solid run of form in recent weeks. The Rubro-Negro head into the game on a three-match winning streak and we predict they will come away with the desired result once again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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