Preview: Flamengo vs. Universidad Catolica - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, who currently sit third in the standings, have failed to win any of their last two group outings and will set out to end this dry spell and keep their qualification chances alive.

Match preview

Flamengo failed to get up and running in the new Serie A campaign as they lost the lead twice before settling for a 2-2 draw with Ceara at the Arena Castelao on Saturday.

Thirty-year-old midfielder Willian Arao found the target either side of Stiven Mendoza's 26th-minute equaliser to hand the visitors a first-half lead, but substitute Nino Paraiba netted in the 91st minute to force a share of the spoils.

Paulo Sousa's men have now failed to taste victory in any of their last four league outings, while picking up just one win and six points from six games so far.

However, they will take pride in their performance in the Copa Libertadores, where they have enjoyed a stellar campaign so far, picking up three wins and one draw from their opening four games.

Flamengo, who suffered a gruesome extra-time defeat against fellow Brazilian side Palmeiras in last season's final, currently sit top of Group H and now need just one point from their final two games to secure a spot in the knockout stages.

The Rubro-Negro's solid continental performance has been in no small part owing to the solid job done at the attacking end of the pitch, where they boasts the tournament's second-best record with 10 goals scored so far.

Universidad Catolica, on the other hand, have struggled to grind out results in the Copa Libertadores, picking up four points from their four games to sit third in the group standings.

However, they will head into the clash against their Brazilian counterparts with renewed confidence after cruising to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Union La Calera in the Primera Division last Friday.

14,000 fans watched on at the Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo as a second-half brace from Fernando Zampedri and Felipe Gutierrez's 82nd-minute strike saw La Catolica pick up their fifth league win of the season.

Prior to that, the Chilean outfit were on a run of five consecutive games without a win across all competitions, picking up two draws and losing three while scoring four goals and shipping 10 in that time.

While Ariel Holan's side will look to pick up consecutive victories for the first time since February and keep their chances of reaching the knockout stages alive, next up is the stern test of taking on Flamengo at the Maracana, where they have lost each of their previous two visits.

Flamengo Copa Libertadores form:

Flamengo form (all competitions):

Universidad Catolica Copa Libertadores form:

Universidad Catolica form (all competitions):

Team News

Universidad Catolica will once again take to the pitch without the services of Luciano Aued, who has been out of action since last December through a heart condition.

With his brace at the weekend, Zampedri has now scored five goals in his last six outings, and we expect the 34-year-old to team up with Fabian Orellana and Cristian Cuevas in La Catolica's three-man front line.

Flamengo's injury list is more hefty by comparison as the likes of Filipe Luis (calf), Fabricio Bruno (foot), Gustavo Henrique (muscle) and Vitinho (muscle) all continue their spells on the sidelines.

Sousa will also be unable to call upon the goalkeeping duo of Diego Alves and Santos, who are recuperating from groin and thigh injuries respectively, meaning Hugo Souza should retain his spot in goal once again.

Brazilian international Thiago Maia is also out of contention for the hosts after the 25-year-old midfielder came off injured at half time in the Copa do Brasil tie against Altos on May 11.

Flamengo possible starting lineup:

Souza; Isla, Pablo, Luiz, Lucas; Arao, Gomes; Ribeiro, Arrascaeta, Henrique; Barbosa

Universidad Catolica possible starting lineup:

Perez; Rebolledo, Astaburuaga, Galani, Parot; Fuenzalida, Saavedra, Leiva, Cuevas; Orellana, Barticciotto

We say: Flamengo 2-0 Universidad Catolica

Flamengo have enjoyed an unbeaten campaign in the Copa Libertadores and will be looking to secure their place in the knockout stages. Universidad Catolica, meanwhile, have struggled to grind out results, managing just one win from their four games. We predict the Brazilians will come away with all three points and heap more misery on the floundering visitors.

For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggested result please click here.

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