Preview: Flamengo vs. Chapecoense - prediction, team news, lineups

Two out-of-form sides meet at the Maracana on Sunday as Flamengo play host to Chapecoense.

The home team have lost their last two matches to drop down to 12th, while Chapecoense have yet to win this campaign and are 19th in the 20-team division.

Match preview

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Flamengo have won the Brasileiro title in the last two seasons, making their slow start to the 2021 campaign all the more surprising.

After an inconsistent set of results in their opening six games, the Scarlet-Black have since lost to rivals Fluminense and Atletico Mineiro.

Two goals in three minutes from Jefferson Savarino earned Atletico a 2-1 victory in Tuesday's match, rendering William Arao's late header nothing more than a consolation.

With three defeats in four games, the pressure is on Rogerio Ceni to get things right against lowly Chapecoense this weekend.

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The Big Green have a return of four points from a possible 30 since returning to the top flight this season and are kept off the foot of the division by Gremio alone.

Jair Ventura's side have taken points off Ceara, Sao Paulo, Atletico Mineiro and Athletico Paranaense this term, but they have lost their last three games.

That includes back-to-back matches without scoring against Bahia and Corinthians, which simply has to change if they are to make up the four-point gap on 16th place.

The 18 goals Chapecoense have conceded this season is easily the most of any Brasileiro side, though their eight goals for is only two fewer than Flamengo have managed.

Sunday's match will mark the first time that these sides have met since October 2019, when Flamengo picked up a 1-0 victory.

Team News

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Flamengo can welcome Vitinho back for Saturday's game after the attacker served a one-match ban in the loss to Atletico Mineiro.

Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Mauricio Isla and Robert Piris Da Motta are all back from international duty, but Everton Ribeiro and Gabriel Barbosa are still away with Brazil.

Diego and Cesar are the home side's two other likely absentees due to injury issues.

As for Chapecoense, they have a long list of injuries that includes Moises Ribeiro, Tiepo, Leo Gomes and Joilson.

To make matters worse for Ventura, Alan Santos sustained a problem in the loss to Bahia and had to be replaced.

Anselmo Ramon was brought on as a second-half substitute in that most recent match and is pushing for a recall here.

Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Alves; Isla, G. Henrique, Caio, Luis; Michael, Gomes, Arao, Arrascaeta; B. Henrique, Pedro

Chapecoense possible starting lineup:
Paulo; Ribeiro, Ignacio, Santana, Derlan; Guedes, Lima; Mike, Ravanelli, Fernandinho; Ramon

We say: Flamengo 2-0 Chapecoense

Flamengo cannot afford to lose another match, especially against a side as low in the division as Chapecoense, who are yet to win a game this season.

The Scarlet-Black have a big cup game to come next week, but all focus will be on this match and we can see them picking up a morale-boosting win.