Bangu vs Flamengo Prediction: Flamengo must win to keep chasing Fluminense

This Carioca match will take place in Aracaju, in Sergipe state, 1800 km from Rio de Janeiro. It means that Bangu won't have its fans supporting it, and Flamengo, which has fans all over Brazil, will be playing practically at home. Tite's team is in second place, two points behind rival Fluminense. Winning the Copa Guanabara is possible, but for that to happen, the Mengão must win every game until the Clássico Fla-Flu.

The Beaver is in 10th place with five points, while last-placed Audax Rio has yet to score. The team's aim from the western district of Rio de Janeiro is to avoid relegation, and as only the 12th and last team in the table will go down to the second division of Carioca, Bangu can rest easy for now. The Factory Team drew at home to Volta Redonda in the last round, and any point gained at this stage is very positive. It would be great for Bangu to repeat the draw, especially against a team like Flamengo, but the mission seems impossible.

The Scarlet-Black, curiously enough, also faced Volta Redonda in its last game, but it was a Round 3 game that was overdue. Flamengo won 3-0, with two goals coming very close to the end. The result indicates an uneven match, but that wasn't the case as Volta Redonda also had chances to score. This meeting against Bangu will be the last away game for the Vulture, and following this trip to Aracaju, the team has three home fixtures against Boavista, Fluminense, and Madureira.

It will be a big surprise if Flamengo doesn't beat Bangu. In the past, the Factory Team had a weight in Carioca football that it doesn't have today. The two sides met many times, with Flamengo having a clear advantage in the 230 games. The Mengão won 144 times against 51 victories for Bangu. The last time the Beaver won was in 2002. I'm backing Flamengo to win with a total of under three goals scored.