Fluminense vs Flamengo: Waiting for Three Goals at Least

Carioca's final ended with a sensational 2:0 victory for Fluminense. Although this victory did not surprise us, given the recent statistics of matches between the Tricolour and the Red and Blacks. For the upcoming meeting, bookmakers put Flamengo as the favorite, although this time Fluminense is the formal host of the field.

Fluminense looks like a tough squad, but as the match against Flamengo showed, they can defeat one of the strongest teams not only in Brazil, but also in South America. After dropping out of the Copa Libertadores from Paraguay's Olimpia, Tricolour played three matches in the Carioca tournament. First, with great difficulty, due to a secondary indicators, Flu managed to beat Botafogo. Then, in the first Carioca final, Tricolour defeated Flamengo 2:0. Cano scored for the Tricolor. He sent both goals at the end of the match, by 83 and 85 minutes. The match turned out to be a rough and rich in bookings, as the referee showed 10, five for each team. Surprisingly, in the first half mostly Flamengo players fouled. In the second, the teams switched roles and the Tricolour players were the only ones to be carded.

Before the final, Flamengo had a four-match winning streak and a six-match undefeated streak. However, this statistic did not help the Red and Blacks, who failed their first final with two goals. Now Flamengo will have to take its chances. After all, to win the title the Red and Blacks will have to score at least twice at the Maracana. In the past three games Flamengo has not shot more than one goal against its opponents. Before that the Red and Blacks regularly reached their total over 1.5. For example, that happened in encounters with Bangu, Vasco da Gama, Resende, Botafogo, Atletico Mineiro, Madureira, Nova Iguacu, etc.

We expected poor performance in the first final, which turned out to be true, with Fluminense scoring both goals in the last 10 minutes of the game. From the upcoming meeting, we instead look forward to an under outcome. The reason is that Flamengo needs a firm win, preferably by three goals or more. The Red and Blacks have the necessary potential. Fluminense, in order to consolidate its position in the state finals, must score at least once against Flamengo.

Despite the loss in the first part, we will not be surprised if Flamengo defeats Fluminense and wins the trophy. The Red and Blacks have a much stronger squad. We should not forget that Flamengo will play the upcoming match, as well as the first game, in their home Maracana.

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