Flamengo vs Sao Paulo Match Analysis and Prediction

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Two South American cup finalists will go head to head seeking for a place in the Copa do Brasil final on Thursday when Flamengo play host to Sao Paulo at the Maracana.

The hosts, who progressed to their second consecutive Copa Libertadores final last week, took a 3-1 lead in the opening leg of this tie against Sao Paulo.

Mengao’s performance in Sao Paulo in the opening leg was probably the most convincing one for them in the knockout round of this tournament, scoring as many goals in that game as they had managed in their previous three matches at this competition combined.

Dorival Junior has seen his side sit in a spot to capture a cup double for a fourth successive campaign, as they are yet to suffer a home defeat at this season’s competition.

Flamengo have not made it to the final of this tournament since 2017, where they were beaten on penalties by Cruzeiro. However, they are currently unbeaten in 18 consecutive matches across all competitions, defeating Sao Paulo twice over that stretch.

In the prominent history of Sao Paulo FC, the Copa do Brasil is one of the few trophies to elude them, with their best finish being the runners-up in 2000.

Tricolor Paulista made it into the final of the Copa Sudamericana less than a week ago, defeating Atletico Goianiense 2-0 in the second leg after dropping the opening game 3-1, eventually progressing 4-2 on penalties.

Sao Paulo did defeat Flamengo at the Maracana in their only previous visit to Rio in this competition, winning 2-1 in 2020, progressing from that quarter-final tie 5-1 on aggregate.

When they find the back of the net first, Sao Paulo can be a tough team to beat, going unbeaten in eight consecutive matches across all competitions when scoring the opening goal.

Flamengo vs Sao Paulo head to head

These two teams have previously met on 50 occasions across all competitions, where Flamengo have claimed 15 victories while Sao Paulo have won 20, and they have drawn in 15. Flamengo have scored 60 goals and conceded 73. Flamengo have won in each of their last five meetings home and away.

Flamengo 5-1 Sao Paulo 25/07/21

Sao Paulo 0-4 Flamengo 14/11/21

Flamengo 3-1 Sao Paulo 17/04/22

Sao Paulo 0-2 Flamengo 07/08/22

Sao Paulo 1-3 Flamengo 25/08/22

Flamengo latest home form

Flamengo have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been ubeaten in their 12 most recent matches. They managed to defeat Velez Sarsfield 2-1 in their last home game in the Copa Libertadores. In their last five matches, they have scored 13 goals and conceded just three.

Flamengo 4-1 Atletico Goianiense 31/07/22

Flamengo 1-0 Corinthians 10/08/22

Flamengo 5-0 Athletico Paranaense 14/08/22

Flamengo 1-1 Ceara 04/09/22

Flamengo 2-1 Velez Sarsfield 08/09/22

Flamengo latest away form

Flamengo have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their nine most recent matches. They played out a 1-1 draw with Goias in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded three.

Palmeiras 1-1 Flamengo 21/08/22

Sao Paulo 1-3 Flamengo 25/08/22

Botafogo 0-1 Flamengo 29/08/22

Velez Sarsfield 0-4 Flamengo 01/09/22

Goias 1-1 Flamengo 12/09/22

Sao Paulo latest home form

Sao Paulo have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their six most recent matches. They drew 1-1 with Corinthians in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded five.

Sao Paulo 3-0 RB Bragantino 14/08/22

Sao Paulo 1-3 Flamengo 25/08/22

Sao Paulo 0-1 Fortaleza 28/08/22

Sao Paulo (P)2-0 Atletico Goianiense 09/09/22

Sao Paulo 1-1 Corinthians 11/09/22

Sao Paulo latest away form

Sao Paulo have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their seven most recent matches. They drew 1-1 with Cuiaba in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded nine.

Ceara 2-1(P) Sao Paulo 11/08/22

America Mineiro 2-2 Sao Paulo 19/08/22

Santos 1-0 Sao Paulo 22/08/22

Atletico Goianiense 3-1 Sao Paulo 02/09/22

Cuiaba 1-1 Sao Paulo 05/09/22

Flamengo news

Flamengo’s Rodinei leads them with three assist at this competition, while Santos saw his three-game shutout run at the Copa do Brasil ended with Rodrigo Nestor’s 79th-minute strike for Sao Paulo.

Matheus Franca scored their only goal this weekend as they played out a 1-1 draw in the league with Goias.

Sao Paulo news

Luciano has scored four goals for Sao Paulo so far in the 2022 competition, putting him in a three-way tie for second alongside Edu and Vina.

Felipe Alves collected a clean sheet in the encounter with Atletico Goianiense, while Eder had their equalising goal this weekend in a 1-1 draw against Corinthians domestically.

Prediction and Odds

Sao Paulo have shown that they are a force to reckon with in this competition, particularly in knockout-stage matches.

However, Flamengo seem to have an answer for everything that their opponents throw at them. So it is difficult to envisage the visitors pulling off a victory in this second leg.

Odds: 1 1.88 X 2.03 2 2.22