Flamengo vs Atlético Goianiense Prediction: Flamengo faces the last-placed team

The Cariocas host Atlético Goianiense at the Maracanã in a game in which they are the clear favorites. Flamengo moved to second in the Brasileirão, taking advantage of the Palmeiras' defeat against Fluminense in the last round. The Goiânia side is bottom of the table and hasn't won in ten games.

The Vulture won 2-1 against Vitória in Salvador but with suffer. The winning goal came in the last minute through Carlinhos, when few expected the score to change. Flamengo was leading 1-0 at half-time with a goal from Arrascaeta, and everything seemed to be under control. However, in the second half, the Baianos pressed for an equalizer, which came in the 75th minute through Everaldo. The Mengão's reaction wasn't as strong as expected, but a long ball caught Vitória's defense off guard, and Carlinhos made the final score in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Flamengo is three points behind leader Botafogo, so only victory matters against Atlético Goianiense. In midweek, the Scarlet-Black will face Palmeiras in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil Round of 16, and Tite could give some players a rest.

The Dragon almost broke its long run of games without a win. The Goianos were leading Bahia 1-0 at home but conceded a goal in the ninth minute of added time, driving their fans into despair. Atlético hasn't won in ten games and now seems the strongest candidate for relegation to the Série B. The club's management rushed to replace coach Jair Ventura when the team was out of the relegation zone. Vagner Mancini has several injured players, making the mission to win at the Maracanã even more arduous.

Flamengo hasn't been playing well and has struggled to beat lower-ranked teams. In recent home games, the Cariocas have seen their opponents open the scoring, but Tite is likely trying to correct some defensive aspects. The opposition is fragile, so it would be a scandal if the Mengão doesn't win. As the odds are low, I will bet on Flamengo to win with a maximum of four goals scored.