After a month and a half, Fluminense can resume their pursuit of Flamengo and Palmeiras. Red Bull Bragantino are also close to them in the standings.
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série A was interrupted at the wrong time for Red Bull Bragantino, who had won three matches in a row before the World Cup. Continuing their run at Maracanã Stadium will be difficult, because they have never managed a win there.
Fluminense
During the break, Fluminense have had time to get most of their players fit again – Alisson, Rodrigo Castillo and Ignácio – while Matheus Reis has been out with cruciate ligament damage since early spring and there is still no timetable for his return. In the last round before the pause, they played Cruzeiro and had to cope without two suspended players, Juan Pablo Freytes and Nonato. They are now available again, which will make the squad stronger. Agustín Canobbio picked up a deserved straight red card for dissent at the World Cup in the last match against Spain, but the Uruguayan’s suspension does not apply to club competitions.
Red Bull Bragantino
Red Bull Bragantino also ended the spring without several players who missed matches through suspension or injury, but unlike the side from Rio, a good number of them have still not recovered. Fabinho, Fabrício and Davi Gomes are still in the treatment room, and Gabriel has joined them. These are not the most important players, but Vagner Mancini has fewer resources to work with in any case. There has been virtually no summer reinforcement for Red Bull Bragantino: loan players have returned and the club have made defender Gustavo Marques’ move permanent. Fluminense, by contrast, have pulled off a couple of high-profile transfers. The pair can be described as veterans, but Thiago Silva and Hulk, who have arrived as free agents, bring authority and experience.
Fluminense vs Red Bull Bragantino Prediction
All these squad losses and additions clearly tip the balance towards Fluminense, who have also never lost at home to Red Bull Bragantino since the latter were promoted to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A – four wins and two draws – and they have scored exactly two goals in each of the last five meetings. The best bet is Fluminense to win.
