Fluminense vs Athletico-PR Prediction: Crucial clash in the relegation battle

Fluminense and Athletico-PR will meet in a postponed match from Round 17, with both sides looking to pick up points to get out of the difficult situation they find themselves in. Fluminense beat rival Flamengo in the last round and took an enormous step towards escaping relegation, now occupying 15th place with 33 points. Athletico-PR is going through a results crisis and hasn't won any of the last ten league matches, which led the Curitiba side into the relegation zone. The Paranaenses are in 18th place with 31 points and desperately need a win.

The Tricolor das Laranjeiras finally defeated Flamengo after eight games without a victory over its great rival. The match took place at the Maracanã, but Fluminense played as the visitor, making the victory even more significant. Flamengo was the better side in the first half and had several chances to open the scoring but failed to capitalize. Even so, Fluminense had the best goalscoring opportunity in the first 45 minutes, but Ganso missed a penalty. Fluminense showed tremendous resilience and scored in the 50th minute through Lima, regaining confidence. Ten minutes later, Arias made it 2-0, complicating things for Flamengo. It was the second straight victory for Mano Menezes' men, who can breathe easier now. However, Fluminense isn't out of the woods yet, so it must beat Athletico-PR.

The Hurricane is in big trouble and continues without winning. On top of that, the defeat in the last round was heavy and against a direct opponent. Losing 5-2 against Corinthians was a very disappointing result, and Lucho González needs to find a way to instill confidence in his players, who have no confidence at all at the moment. Everything changes very quickly in football, so it's still possible to turn things around, but Athletico Paranense is currently a strong candidate for relegation if it doesn't improve considerably. The recent performances were poor and worrying for the fans of the Curitiba club.

After a victory in the Fla-Flu, Fluminense is highly motivated. Athletico-PR is going through a terrible spell and hasn't won in ten Série A matches, occupying a place in the relegation zone. The Paranaenses urgently need points, but their confidence is low. I'm betting on a Double Chance in favor of Fluminense with a maximum of three goals scored. The visitors will want to react to their heavy defeat in the previous round and give everything they have at the Maracanã, but Fluminense is the favorite.