The Classico dos Milhoes takes centre stage in the Brazilian top flight this weekend, as two Rio de Janeiro rivals face off at the Maracana.
On Sunday, struggling Vasco da Gama entertain upwardly-mobile Flamengo, with five points separating the teams after six matches.
If you’re looking for stats, trends and analysis, we’ve got you covered. Read on to discover what Forebet’s AI algorithm predicts for Sunday’s showdown.
Let’s start by looking at the hosts, Vasco da Gama, who have lost four of their six league games this season, leaving them one point outside the relegation zone.
That said, Vasco returned to winning ways in their previous Brasileiro game, ending a run of four straight defeats with a 2-1 victory over Vitoria.
In midweek, Vasco booked their place in the fourth round of the Copa do Brasil in dramatic fashion, drawing 3-3 with Fortaleza before winning 5-4 on penalties.
Having seen over 2.5 goals in six of their previous eight matches across all competitions, Vasco will likely be involved in another eventful encounter this weekend.
Meanwhile, Flamengo claimed a 3-0 victory over Millonairos in the Copa Libertadores in midweek, booking their place in the knockout phases as result.
This result means that Flamengo head into Sunday’s clash on a four-game winning streak across all competitions, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
In the Brasileiro, Flamengo have lost just one of their six matches this season, picking up three wins and two draws to remain two points shy of the top two.
Having won back-to-back Brasileiro titles in 2019 and 2020, Flamengo will be eager to regain the crown this term, having finished outside the top three in each of the past two seasons.
Head-to-head: Vasco da Gama have failed to win any of their last 10 league meetings with Flamengo, losing five of the previous six encounters.
To make matters worse for Vasco, they have managed to win just two of the previous 24 Classico dos Milhoes showdowns in the Brasileiro.
Team news: Vasco da Gama are still without long-term injury absentees Paulinho Paula and Jair, as the midfielders continue to recover from cruciate ligament issues.
Flamengo have reported no fresh injury problems ahead of Sunday’s clash, meaning star players like David Luiz, Pedro, Gerson and Everton should feature in the starting XI.
Given that Vasco have endured huge struggles in the Classico dos Milhoes in recent times, Flamengo are expected to come away with the win this time around.
Forebet predicts that Flamengo will score over 1.5 goals and keep a clean sheet on their way to defeating Vasco da Gama.