Maracanã test: will Flamengo seize the top or slip again? | OneFootball

Flamengo host Fortaleza at the Maracanã this Sunday in a match that could have significant implications at both ends of the Brasileirão table. Coming off a crucial 2-0 victory away to Palmeiras—the league leaders—Flamengo enter the 11th round as vice-leaders with 21 points, looking to seize the top spot should results elsewhere fall in their favor. Their visitors, Fortaleza, currently sit 16th on 10 points and are seeking to snap a difficult run in the league.

The Maracanã has typically favored the home side in this fixture. In 12 league meetings in Rio, Flamengo have secured six wins to Fortaleza’s four, with two draws. However, the most recent encounter at the venue saw Fortaleza leave with all three points, a 2-1 victory in which they recovered after an own goal to stun the hosts.

Both clubs arrive in contrasting form. Flamengo’s recent stretch includes back-to-back clean-sheet victories—over Palmeiras in the league and Deportivo Táchira in the Libertadores—plus a stretch of just one loss in their last five outings. In total, they've scored eight and conceded only two across this period, underlining a growing defensive solidity. Pedro, who netted in the last Maracanã meeting, remains central to Flamengo’s attack.

Fortaleza, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency. Their last league outing ended in a 2-0 home defeat to Cruzeiro, and they haven’t won in their last four Brasileirão matches. While they did secure progression in continental competition, domestically the season has felt far more challenging, with the team lacking both attacking edge and defensive firmness.

Looking ahead, the fixture dynamics are further complicated by the league’s volatility at the top; four teams—including Flamengo—could potentially finish the round as leaders, depending on results. The Rubro-Negro, buoyed by recent momentum and a positive head-to-head record, must guard against complacency. Fortaleza, despite their struggles, did claim a memorable win in Rio last year and have shown the capacity to be awkward opponents.

Elsewhere in the round, Cruzeiro and Palmeiras face off in a clash that could directly impact the title race, while Bragantino and Vasco also have an outside chance at the summit. But all eyes in Rio will be on the Maracanã come Sunday evening, with Flamengo aiming to extend their strong start and keep the pressure on their rivals.

Source: Lance