The Carioca Championship leaders, Flamengo and Fluminense, meet this Sunday afternoon (February 25) at 4 p.m. Brasília time (2 p.m. ET) in an “early final” of the Taça Guanabara. The derby will be played on Brazilian soccer’s biggest stage, Maracanã, in the 10th round of the competition. Expect plenty of betting interest in the outcome of this match.
The two teams have nearly identical records: each leader has played 9 games, with 6 wins, 3 draws and 0 losses. What puts Flamengo (“Urubu”) on top is goal difference (17 to 10).
Even though Fluminense comes in as the reigning champion of South America, Flamengo’s form is undeniable. Flamengo has won its last 4 games, while Fluminense has 2 wins and 2 draws in its last 4.
Another point in Flamengo’s favor is its squad, which is packed with top-level players. Its rival, meanwhile, is coming off a 1-0 loss to LDU in the Recopa Sudamericana. In an interview, Felipe Melo, one of the leaders of Fluminense’s squad, took a jab at the rival:
“Nobody says anything at all. It was just a little game at altitude, a little 6-hour flight. The game is Sunday at 4 in the afternoon. I think if it were the other way around, there wouldn’t be a game. That’s even up for debate. Would Flamengo play the game, or is it just Fluminense? But that’s how it is. It’s a derby. I never get tired of saying that Flamengo is one of the biggest teams on the continent, very strong. They’ve strengthened even more. So it’s always a final,” Felipe Melo said.
The Carioca Championship, popularly known as the Cariocão, stands out not only for its history of intense rivalries but also for its significant reach in the Brazilian media. One of the country’s most traditional tournaments, it draws a huge national audience and is widely covered on TV, radio and digital platforms. Fans’ passion, combined with big clubs with national appeal such as Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco and Botafogo, raises the championship’s profile and earns it a prominent place on Brazil’s sports calendar and in national media coverage.
