Fluminense vs Nova Iguaçu Prediction: Meeting between teams at the top of the Carioca

In the early rounds of the Carioca, it's usual for the big clubs not to use their best players. The state championships mark the start of a season always long in Brazil. Fluminense is an example of this, using a secondary team so far. The key players returned from vacation this week. Even so, the Tricolor has seven points from three games, leading the Carioca along with Vasco da Gama and Nova Iguaçu.

In its last game, Fluminense beat Audax Rio 1-0 away. Lelê scored the winning goal in the 33rd minute and is the top scorer in Carioca with three goals. Germán Cano's usual substitute is making the most of his opportunity to play at the start of the season. Even without playing a great match, the Tricolor won on a tricky pitch due to the rain. This meeting with Nova Iguaçu promises another kind of difficulty, as the Série D team has been a good surprise. The team Fluminense will field will continue to be a secondary one.

The Baixada's Clockwork Orange is off to a good start in the championship. With two wins and a draw, the team from Nova Iguaçu, a city located 40 km from Rio de Janeiro, is tied with Vasco da Gama and Fluminense at the top of the Carioca. In its last game, a 3-2 win at Bangu showed that the team can perfectly achieve its goal of avoiding relegation. The record is in Fluminense's favor in the matches between the two teams, having only lost once in 2017. Nova Iguaçu will be looking to surprise and steal points from the Tricolor.

Fluminense is the favorite but must respect its opponent, which is highly motivated and has nothing to lose. The Tricolor's secondary team players know they must take advantage of the opportunity to stand out while the club's star players are unavailable. I'm backing Fluminense to win.