Looking at the matchup between Flamengo and Fortaleza, there are a couple things we can't help but notice. Let's start with the goalkeepers. Flamengo's Agustín Rossi has been good but not great with a 7.12 rating and 23 saves. Meanwhile, Fortaleza's João Ricardo is working the net like a spider on energy drinks with an impressive 7.49 rating and 38 saves. So, Fortaleza seems to have the edge when it comes to keeping the ball out of the net.
Moving on to those looking to put said ball in said net, Flamengo definitely has some top-tier gents ready to strike. Luiz Araújo, Pedro, and Gerson – notable names with ratings above 7 and a well-rounded collection of goals and shots on goal.
Now, Fortaleza's top performers seem to be little more than decent. Despite the impressive efforts from Tomás Pochettino and Juan Martín Lucero, the team's scoring statistics are somewhat lacking compared to its adversaries – is it chivalry or just poor aim?
When we look at the historical head-to-head, Flamengo has been playing Fortaleza like a cheap violin the past few outings. Must dazzle those Fortaleza boys with all that red and black.
And while both teams have had a reasonable run in the regular season, Flamengo just edges out Fortaleza with a 9-4-2 record to Fortaleza's 6-5-3. The recent results also show Flamengo with a slight edge – on a winning steak it seems, while Fortaleza just slipped on a banana peel against Vasco.
So if we're going by the numbers (and general football common sense), Flamengo seems to be the strong horse to back, even if we account for any possible upsets. But remember, this is football – the giant killers are always waiting in the shadows.
Albert’s Prediction: Flamengo by 1