Cuiabá vs Flamengo Prediction: Flamengo cannot underestimate its opponent

It will only be the fifth time the teams meet, as Cuiabá has just recently reached a high level in Brazilian football. Flamengo has won three times, and the teams have one draw between them. Cuiabá hopes to beat Fla for the first time in its third Série A appearance. The Mato Grosso do Sul team is doing a better-than-expected league, occupying ninth place with 25 points. The Cariocas are in second place with 31 points, twelve behind rival, Botafogo, who is at the top of the league. Flamengo plays at the Arena Pantanal between two Copa Libertadores matches, which may cause fatigue and, unconsciously, lower intensity in the league matches. If the Cariocas don't give everything they have until the end of the game, they might ask for trouble.

Unlike those who pointed it as one of the strong relegation candidates, the Dourado is doing a sensational tournament. The Auriverde, in the last five fixtures, won four and drew one, the best sequence of teams in the Brasileirão, on par with leader Botafogo. In the last round, Cuiabá got another excellent result away from home, beating Internacional 2-1 after being down. Once again, Deyverson was the hero scoring the winning goal in the 88th minute. It was the fifth away win for Cuiabá, which is very calm at the table, playing at ease. The team has nothing to lose against Flamengo.

The Vulture beat Paraguay's Olimpia 1-0 at the Maracanã in the 1st leg of the Copa Libertadores Round of 16. Flamengo dominated the game but could not get a relaxing result for the 2nd leg. In the last league match, the Cariocas went to Belo Horizonte to beat Atlético Mineiro 2-1 with two goals in the last ten minutes. It was the third consecutive victory for Jorge Sampaoli's team. Against Cuiabá, the Argentine coach can't use several important players between injuries and punishments. Arrascaeta, Gabriel Barbosa, Filipe Luís, Pulgar and Léo Pereira did not travel to Cuiabá.

I will bet on a surprise, with a Double Chance in favor of Cuiabá. The Dourado is with very high confidence and plays without pressure. On the other hand, Flamengo is under pressure to win in the middle of a Copa Libertadores knockout and will not field its best team.