Flamengo and Atletico Mineiro meet on Thursday looking to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of this year’s Copa do Brasil.
Following Atletico Mineiro’s 2-1 victory in the home leg three weeks ago, the tie is still very much alive heading into the second leg at Flamengo.
Flamengo lost out on the title to their upcoming opponents last season, and also missed out on the chance to face them in the cup final after being eliminated at the semi-final stage, but will be hoping to go at least one better on both fronts this time around.
However, sitting nine points adrift of league leaders Palmeiras in Serie A, this domestic cup showdown on home soil is a huge one for Dorival Junior.
After Hulk and Ademir has scored either side of half time, Lazaro’s 80th-minute goal halved Flamengo’s deficit in the first leg, and could prove crucial at the Maracana on Thursday.
Having claimed four wins in their last five matches, Junior will hope his side’s growing confidence could prove enough to produce an upset against their opponents.
Meanwhile, after having completed a historic domestic double last season, Atletico Mineiro will be looking for further success in this campaign.
Last season only marked the second time they had ever won Serie A and Copa do Brasil in their entire history, so to lift both trophies in the same season was quite the exceptional feat.
Antonio Mohamed still has his side on course for only a second ever Copa Libertadores victory this season as well, after progressing past Emelec last week.
Should Atletico Mineiro hold onto their lead against Flamengo, an unthinkable treble could be on the cards this time around, with overturnin a two-point deficit to Palmeiras in Serie A hardly representing an impossible task at this early stage of the campaign.
Flamengo vs Atletico Mineiro head to head
The two teams have previously met on 52 occasions across all competitions, where Flamengo have claimed 20 victories while Mineiro have won 21, and they have drawn in 11. Flamengo have scored 72 goals and condeded 80. In their last five meetings, Mineiro have won four while Flamengo have won one.
Atletico Mineiro 2-1 Flamengo 08/07/21
Flamengo 1-0 Atletico Mineiro 31/10/21
Atletico Mineiro (P)2-2 Flamengo 20/02/22
Atletico Mineiro 2-0 Flamengo 19/06/22
Atletico Mineiro 2-1 Flamengo 23/06/22
Flamengo latest home form
Flamengo have recently been on a good run of form at home, having lost just one of their eight most recent matches. They managed to defeat Deportes Tolima 7-1 in their last home game in the Copa Libertadores. In their last five matches, they have scored 15 goals and conceded four.
Flamengo 2-1 Sporting Cristal 25/05/22
Flamengo 1-2 Fortaleza 05/06/22
Flamengo 2-0 Cuiaba 16/06/22
Flamengo 3-0 America Mineiro 26/06/22
Flamengo 7-1 Deportes Tolima 07/07/22
Flamengo latest away form
Flamengo have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their seven most recent matches. They lost 1-0 to Corinthians in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded six.
Atletico Mineiro 2-0 Flamengo 19/06/22
Atletico Mineiro 2-1 Flamengo 23/06/22
Deportes Tolima 0-1 Flamengo 30/06/22
Santos 1-2 Flamengo 03/07/22
Corinthians 1-0 Flamengo 10/07/22
Atletico Mineiro latest home form
Atletico Mineiro have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their seven most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Sao Paulo in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 11 goals and conceded just three.
Atletico Mineiro 2-0 Flamengo 19/06/22
Atletico Mineiro 2-1 Flamengo 23/06/22
Atletico Mineiro 3-2 Fortaleza 26/06/22
Atletico Mineiro 1-0 Emelec 06/07/22
Atletico Mineiro 0-0 Sao Paulo 11/07/22
Atletico Mineiro latest away form
Atletico Mineiro have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They defeated Juventude 2-1 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded seven.
Palmeiras 0-0 Atletico Mineiro 05/06/22
Fluminense 5-3 Atletico Mineiro 09/06/22
Ceara 0-0 Atletico Mineiro 16/06/22
Emelec 1-1 Atletico Mineiro 29/06/22
Juventude 1-2 Atletico Mineiro 02/07/22
Flamengo news
Flamengo are likely to be without the services of Bruno Henrique and Giorgian de Arrascaeta due to injury, while Diego Alves and Matheuzinho are expected to be ruled out through illness.
Santos will continue between the posts in Alves’ absence, while full-back Filipe Luis could return to the side at left-back.
Atletico Mineiro news
Atletico Mineiro will be taking to the pitch looking more fortunate on the availabilty front, with only Keno absent due to a thigh injury that will keep him out of contention.
Hulk and Eduardo Vargas will carry a potent threat going forward as the hosts look to take the game to Mohamed’s side.
Prediction and Odds
Flamengo head into the contest with injury and illness issues to deal with, while Atletico Mineiro appear to be a more settled and confident unit at this stage of the campaign.
As such, we are expecting the visitors to avoid defeat, with their chances of retaining both competitions consequently remaining alive.
Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.05 2 2.20
Probable outcomes
Flamengo 0-0 Atletico Mineiro
Flamengo 1-1 Atletico Mineiro
Flamengo 2-2 Atletico Mineiro
Flamengo 0-1 Atletico Mineiro
Flamengo 1-2 Atletico Mineiro
