Flamengo vs Juventude Prediction: Flamengo is the clear favorite

With qualification for the Copa do Brasil final confirmed, Flamengo can refocus on the Brasileirão to finish in the top four at least, as winning the title seems unlikely. The opponent is Juventude, a team that usually struggles on the road, so the Scarlet-Black has a strong chance of winning.

After a 1-0 home win in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil semi-finals, Flamengo needed a draw against Corinthians to reach the final, and that's what happened. The Cariocas had to play more than an hour with ten players after losing Bruno Henrique, who received a red card, but they put in a perfect defensive display and got a clean sheet. It was a great reaction to the defeat against rival Fluminense a few days earlier. Flamengo can lift its second trophy this season after winning the Campeonato Carioca. 

The Papo lost 5-3 at home to Palmeiras and extended its winless streak to four games. Juventude gave Palmeiras' forwards too much space, and that's a problem against a quality team. The Gaúchos scored two goals from corners and showed that they are one of the best teams in the league from set pieces. Juventude is in 15th place, just two ahead of the teams in the relegation zone, so the pressure is increasing. The Caxias do Sul side has spent the whole season far from the danger zone, but recent results are pushing the team down at the worst possible time.

The Cariocas have gained confidence after qualifying for the Copa do Brasil final and are the favorites in this game. Juventude hasn't won in four matches and has only managed eight points on the road. Only Corinthians has a worse away record in the league. Flamengo occupies the fourth place with one game in hand and is ten points behind leader Botafogo. It's unlikely that the Scarlet-Black could win the title, not least because it has three teams ahead of it. However, fourth place is in danger of being taken by other teams, who are waiting for Flamengo to slip up, such as São Paulo and Internacional. The teams in the top four qualify for the Copa Libertadores group stage, so the Mengão can't afford to drop points. I'm backing Flamengo to win with a maximum of four goals scored.