The Carioca Championship’s fiercest derby takes place today. Flamengo and Vasco meet this Sunday night (7 p.m. Brasília time, 5 p.m. ET) as Maracanã reopens after its field renovation.
It’s the first big matchup not only of the competition but also of the year for both teams. Vasco comes in looking to bounce back after a weak start to the year. Flamengo is doing better than its rival, but slowly. The Rubro-Negro was expected to steamroll every opponent, and that hasn’t happened. Flamengo currently sits in 6th place, with Vasco in 7th.
Vasco’s main weapon is Frenchman Dimitri Payet, a beast who has been breaking down opposing defensive lines his entire career.
Mengão, meanwhile, has a star-studded squad that strikes fear into any team in South America, and its big new addition is Uruguayan star Nicolás De La Cruz.
And for those who like a little wager, sportsbooks show Tite’s team as heavy favorites. As of this writing, the odds for this game are (decimal odds):
Flamengo: 1.57
Draw: 4.15
Vasco: 5.70
The sportsbooks’ odds make Flamengo’s status as the overwhelming favorite in this match crystal clear.
