Flamengo vs Volta Redonda Prediction: If Flamengo wins this game in hand, it will move up to second place

Flamengo and Volta Redonda meet in this Round 3 match of the Carioca Championship, which was postponed at the time. If the Mengão wins, it will climb to second place, two points behind Fluminense, and put pressure on its rival. The top four teams qualify for the competition's semi-finals. Still, only the team that finishes the regular season in first place will win the Guanabara Cup, a trophy always prestigious for the Rio de Janeiro clubs.

A goal from Léo Pereira in the final seconds of the Rivalry Classic against Botafogo gave Flamengo a tasty victory. Tite's team was the one that pursued victory the most, and the result turned out to be fair, even though Flamengo didn't impress. Botafogo, once again reminiscent of last year's Brasileirão matches, let the tie slip away very close to the end of the game. Flamengo won't have 72 hours between the two matches, but its squad has the solutions to beat Volta Redonda.

This club surprised in last season's Carioca by reaching the semi-finals of the competition, but things aren't going so well this year. Still, Volta Redonda has picked up seven points in its last three games and, despite its ninth-place finish, is four points behind Vasco da Gama, which is in a position to qualify for the semi-finals. To repeat last season's feat of finishing fourth, the Voltaço must score points against Flamengo, as well as against Botafogo in the next round. It's not impossible, but unlikely.

In the 71 times they've met, the Scarlet Black has beaten Volta Redonda 54 times and lost just five games. Having gone ten matches unbeaten against this opponent, Flamengo is the clear favorite despite having little time to rest after the win against Botafogo. The odds for a Mengão victory are very low, so I'll add a goal total of less than 3.5 to the bet.