Flamengo vs Palmeiras Prediction: There's a big game at the Maracanã

The two teams will meet for the third time in a short period. After a two-legged tie in the Copa do Brasil, a crucial duel in the Brasileirão is now underway. Flamengo is in second place with 40 points, while Palmeiras is fourth with 37, but has one more game played than the Cariocas.

The Cariocas had beaten Palmeiras 2-0 in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil Round of 16, so they had a good lead going into the second leg. However, Palmeiras scored after just 7 minutes through Vítor Reis and forced Flamengo to work hard to hold on to the lead. The home team tried everything it could to score more goals without success. The result is encouraging for the Scarlet-Black, which will try to beat its rival again, this time in the league. Tite's men don't want to let Botafogo, the leader with 43 points, slip away.

Palmeiras' season isn't going as expected, but a lot can still happen. The Verdão lost the Supercopa do Brasil to São Paulo, is out of the Copa do Brasil, and is in fourth place in the Brasileirão. It won't be easy for the Paulistas to win the league again, but anything is possible. However, a defeat at the Maracanã could be fatal, as Flamengo will be six points ahead with a game in hand. A few days after the classic, Palmeiras will have another game in Rio de Janeiro to face Botafogo in a Copa Libertadores clash. It's going to be a decisive week for Abel Ferreira's team.

Flamengo and Palmeiras are still the favorites to win the Brasileirão, so I expect a tactical and balanced game. The two teams played two games recently for the Copa do Brasil, and Flamengo came out on top, but now it's a league game, a completely different competition. Palmeiras is three points behind Flamengo, so it must avoid defeat at all costs. A draw can't be considered a bad result for Flamengo either. I'm going for a draw that will probably satisfy both coaches.