Fluminense vs Sampaio Corrêa Prediction: The Copa Guanabara leader is the clear favorite

Fluminense continues to lead the Copa Guanabara, the regular phase of the Campeonato Carioca. Fernando Diniz's team has 14 points, three more than Botafogo, which will face Flamengo. The Rivalry Classic will be played before Fluminense's match, and the Tricolor's lead will be shorter or non-existent when it takes to the pitch at the Maracanã to confront Sampaio Corrêa.

Fernando Diniz surprised once again by leaving his best players out after they had made their debuts in the previous round. In our preview of the match with Boavista, we said that the game could be tricky for Fluminense due to the short recovery time for the team's key players after their first season appearance. The former coach of the Brazilian national team opted to rest his stars, and the secondary team, which had played the first few rounds successfully, this time managed no better than a 2-2 draw. Fluminense must win against the second-last-placed team.

This small club is making its debut this year in the elite of Carioca football and has only managed one point so far. The team's highlight was a 3-3 draw against Vasco da Gama, but that was in Round 2. Sampaio Corrêa has suffered four defeats and failed to score a goal in the last four rounds. The team is in penultimate place, and if it keeps this position, it will avoid relegation. Audax Rio is currently bottom of the Carioca with zero points. Sampaio Corrêa will try to pull off a miracle and pick up a point at the Maracanã.

If Fernando Diniz doesn't surprise with his choice of starting line-up this time, Fluminense should field its best version. And if that happens, the difference between the two sides will be huge. It will be the first time in history that the clubs will meet. The odds of a Fluminense victory are very low, so I'll include a bet that the total number of goals will be less than 4.5.