Preview: Palmeiras vs. Flamengo - prediction, team news, lineups

Palestra have never won this trophy, but they did capture a record 11th Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A title last season, while Mengao claimed the Copa do Brasil, defeating Corinthians on penalties.

Match preview

From the early portion of the 2022 Brazilian top-flight campaign, it was clear Palmeiras would be the team to catch, and in the end, no one could, as the club from Sao Paulo won the title by eight points.

Abel Ferreira has been a massive success since taking over as manager, preaching friendly competition within the team along with communication and empathy, three things which have paid off for this group over the past few seasons.

Last season, this team won a treble, claiming the league title along with the Recopa Sudamericana and the Campeonato Paulista, the first time they had won three national or international trophies in a single season.

The Portuguese boss has implemented a low block system, built on hanging back and sustaining pressure while hitting teams on the counter, and that approach has been effective due to how well-organised they are defensively, conceding the fewest goals in Serie A last season (27).

Palmeiras have an illustrious history of lifting major trophies both domestically and in South America, but they have yet to claim this one as Verdao were denied the crown in 2021 when Flamengo beat them on penalties after the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

They began the knockout stage at the Campeonato Paulista well, defeating Ituano 3-1, the first time Palestra have conceded in a 2023 encounter, and only the second they have allowed in that competition.

If you cannot beat them, join them, and that is what Vitor Pereira has done, with the former Corinthians boss being appointed as the new manager at Flamengo.

A fellow Portuguese coach, Pereira inherits a team that have only gone trophyless over one campaign since 2017, while they are well positioned to claim the Campeonato Carioca, drawing Bangu 1-1 on Tuesday and leading the table with 11 points after five matches.

While he has plenty of coaching experience, he has not been as successful as his Portuguese counterpart that he will face on Saturday, with Pereira failing to capture a major trophy since leading Shanghai SIPG to the Chinese FA Super Cup in 2019.

The slow start to the 2022 domestic campaign had Flamengo playing catchup for an extended portion of the season, winning just three of their opening 11 matches under Paulo Sousa, forcing them to focus more on the other national and international tournaments.

Despite finishing outside the top two domestically for the first time since 2017, they still won a domestic and continental championship in the same season for the first time since 2020, claiming the Copa Libertadores crown in addition to the Copa do Brasil.

Flamengo have not lost in normal time to Palmeiras since 2017, drawing them twice during the 2022 Serie A campaign.

Palmeiras form (all competitions):

Flamengo form (all competitions):

Team News

Palmeiras got contributions from Rafael Navarro and Bruno Tabata, plus an own goal by Lucas Nathan, to defeat Ituano on Wednesday, as Weverton collected his third clean sheet of the year.

Raphael Veiga has scored four times for Verdao against Flamengo, putting home the equaliser when they drew 1-1 in the domestic campaign last season, Vanderlan made his first start of the year on Wednesday, while Marcelo Lomba made seven saves.

Gustavo Scarpa has signed a permanent deal with Nottingham Forest, and Jorge was loaned to Fluminense near the end of 2022, shortly before Wesley signed with Cruzeiro.

Leo Pereira had the only goal for Flamengo when they drew Bangu on Tuesday, while Pedro and Gabriel Barbosa each notched a brace and Fabricio Bruno had one when they defeated Nova Iguacu 5-0 last weekend, as Santos collected a clean sheet.

Barbosa has six goals in his career against Palmeiras, though it was Victor Hugo who had their only strike when they drew them last season, while Giorgian de Arrascaeta put home the winning penalty in the 2021 Supercopa do Brasil final versus Palestra.

Earlier this week, Pedro signed an extension with the club until 2027, Gerson has started all but one match since joining them from Marseille at the beginning of January, Agustin Rossi and Guillermo Varela will not play until July having each signed on free transfers, while Ramon is off to Olympiacos in Greece for €1.5m (£1.3m).

Palmeiras possible starting lineup:

Weverton; Vanderlan, Gomez, Luan, Rocha; Atuesta, Menino; Lopes, Navarro, Dudu; Rony

Flamengo possible starting lineup:

Santos; Lucas, Bruno, Luiz, Varela; Riberio, Gerson, Hugo; De Arrascaeta; Everton, Barbosa

We say: Palmeiras 1-1 Flamengo (Palmeiras wins on penalties).

These sides know each other well, and neither are unfamiliar with these all-or-nothing affairs, so we expect to see a tight game between a pair of teams who are structurally sound and technically as strong as anyone in the Brasileiro Serie A.

As is often the case when two sides are solid as these two, it may come down to a shootout, and in the scenario, a keeper as intelligent and intimidating as Weverton could make the difference.

Previews by email