Flamengo will be looking to prolong their impressive run of form in Saturday’s Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A showdown with Bragantino at the Maracana.
The Scarlet-Black have won four games in a row in all competitions without conceding, while opponents Bragantino are themselves unbeaten in four.
Match preview
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Flamengo saw off second-tier side Coritiba 2-0 on Wednesday to advance through to the last 16 of the Copa do Brasil 3-0 on aggregate.
That keeps their campaign alive on multiple fronts, having also won their opening two league games against Palmeiras and America Mineiro, both without conceding.
Pedro scored the only goal in the season opener against Palmeiras, while Bruno Henrique and Rodrigo Muniz strikes proved too much for America last time out.
Rogerio Ceni‘s side are two points below Bragantino, but they have played two games fewer than their next opponents.
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Braga have taken eight points from their first four matches, beating Chapecoense and Corinthians either side of high-scoring draws against Bahia and Fluminense.
The 10 goals scored by Bragantino so far is two more than any other side, but only two teams have conceded more than the six that they have let in at the other end.
Flamengo have yet to concede a goal, though they will face a very tough test at the Maracana this weekend as Braga rarely fail to score and are unbeaten in four.
These sides played out a couple of 1-1 draws in last season’s league meetings, the most recent coming four months ago when Gabriel Barbosa‘s opener was cancelled out by Ytalo.
Flamengo Brasileiro form:
Flamengo form (all competitions):
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
Bragantino Brasileiro form:
Bragantino form (all competitions):
- W
- L
- D
- W
- D
- W
Team News
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Thiago Maia is carrying a knock and is unlikely to feature for Flamengo, while Pedro recently tested positive for coronavirus.
Like many other Brasileiro sides, the hosts are without a number of players because of Copa America commitments, with the likes of Everton Ribeiro, Gabi and Mauricio Isla absent.
Due to the high number of players ruled out, Ceni may stick with a similar lineup to the one last fielded in the league.
As for Bragantino, they have a quick turnaround in league games, having been in action against Corinthians on Wednesday.
Bruno Tubarao and Vitinho were ruled out of that match through injury and will play no part against Flamengo this weekend.
The visitors will also be without Jan Carlos Hurtado after the forward was called up to the Venezuela national team.
Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Alves; Matheuzinho, Arao, Caio, Luis; Gerson, Diego; Vitinho, Henrique, Michael; Muniz
Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Aderlan, Bruno, Ortiz, Weverson; Evangelista, Raul; Artur, Pedrinho, Helinho; Ytalo
We say: Flamengo 3-2 Bragantino
Bragantino are in good form and certainly know how to find the net, but they also concede their fair share of goals, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last five.
Flamengo are strong defensively and, while we can see them conceding their first league goal of the campaign here, the hosts should prove too strong for their opponents.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data Source: | This article originally belongs to Sportsmole.co.ukncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue82erqxnoKeyt7XEsGSfpJGisq%2BzzmatrGWSp66orc2toKenXaW%2FprDInKuip55iwaatzGalnq%2BjYrmqusSup6xnb5a6sQ%3D%3D