Flamengo vs Madureira Prediction: One point is enough to win the Guanabara Cup

After beating Fluminense in the classic, Flamengo is three points clear of its rival at the start of the Carioca regular season's final round. One point guarantees that Tite's side will win the Guanabara Cup, the trophy awarded to the best team of the eleven rounds. Few believe that Scarlet-Black will lose first place because even in case of a defeat against Madureira, the eleven-goal advantage over Fluminense seems impossible to lose.

Tite's team came out on top in the Fla-Flu last round and took a giant step towards finishing the league stage first. At half-time, the score was 0-0, but a goal from Pedro in the 53rd minute unlocked the victory. Everton Soares' goal in the 78th minute confirmed the three points for Flamengo, making it 2-0. The Vulture has not lost a match so far and has only conceded one goal in ten games. Having secured first place, Flamengo will play the fourth-placed team in the semi-finals. At the moment, Vasco occupies the fourth spot, but it's still possible for Fluminense, Nova Iguaçu, and Botafogo to finish in the last position of the top 4.

The Suburban Tricolor sits in eighth place, with no chance of qualifying for the semi-finals or being relegated. The team will enter the Maracanã to make a good impression and forget the four straight defeats in the competition. Flamengo players are in good form and very confident, so it doesn't look like an easy task for Madureira. The Maracanã should be packed, making it even more difficult for Madureira.

Flamengo is the clear favorite, so the odds for a Scarlet-Black victory are very low. I will bet on a Flamengo victory with a maximum of three goals scored in the game, as Madureira has a competent defense. There is some risk in this bet because the Vulture could achieve a significant score in a match that will have a festive atmosphere for the likely conquest of the Guanabara Cup, but without that risk, the odds are extremely low.