Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Brazilian Serie A match.
Criciúma's dreadful form, with four defeats in their last five fixtures, has dragged the league newcomers back into the relegation zone. Flamengo should capitalise on their opponent’s situation to solidify a top-three finish, as they need to widen the gap over Fortaleza and Internacional.
Criciúma
During the same five-game stretch, Criciúma have picked up just one point, a record as poor as Vasco da Gama's. Since 6 November, they've conceded nine goals, marking the second-worst defence alongside Bahia and Juventude. In their previous match at home against Corinthians (2:4), Criciúma squandered a two-goal lead after the break. They will also be without key midfielder Newton Júnior in the upcoming match due to suspension for accumulating yellow cards.
Flamengo
Flamengo have collected 11 points over the last five league rounds—only Internacional (12) and Corinthians (15) have more. On Sunday, they opened up a three-goal lead by the 41st minute against Internacional, eventually amassing 2.59 xG. For Filipe Luís and his coaching staff, finishing the campaign in the top three is crucial—the young manager has made an excellent start and is achieving success despite injuries to Everton Soares, Pedro Santos, and Matías Viña.
Criciúma vs Flamengo Prediction
In the first leg of Serie A, Criciúma surrendered the lead to Flamengo in the dying minutes (1:2). The visitors will benefit from Erick Pulgar’s return from suspension, and they are expected to create more chances than the struggling underdogs.
