Fluminense vs. Chapecoense – News and Probable Lineups

On Sunday evening, two teams positioned at contrasting ends of the Brasileirao table will meet as Fluminense takes on Chapecoense at Estadio do Maracana.

The Tricolor are the favorites for this fixture, yet their performance may be significantly affected by several key absences, while the visitors aim to stabilize their campaign following a recent change in head coach.

Match overview

Under the guidance of Luis Zubeldia, Fluminense has had a commendable league season thus far and will strive to solidify their ranking among the top teams as they approach the halfway mark.

Zubeldia’s squad has faced only three defeats in twelve league matches, along with two draws and seven wins, including a thrilling 3-2 triumph against Santos at Vila Belmiro last Sunday.

This successful streak has propelled Fluminense to third place in the Brasileirao standings with 23 points from 12 matches, sitting six points behind league leaders Palmeiras with six games remaining before the season’s midpoint.

Fluminense is also competing in the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores, where an upcoming challenging trip to La Paz to face Bolivar is anticipated, making squad management crucial for sustaining performance across all fronts.

While Fluminense can take satisfaction in their attacking prowess with players like Savarino, Castillo, and John Kennedy making significant contributions, they have faced challenges in defense, having conceded 15 goals over their twelve league matches so far.

Conversely, Chapecoense’s return to the top tier of Brazilian football has been difficult, as they have struggled to make their mark in the big leagues and currently sit at the bottom of the table.

A shift in leadership has yet to yield positive changes for the Santa Catarina team, as Gilmar Dal Pozzo’s departure and Fabio Matias’s appointment have not produced the desired results on the field.

Recent losses to Athletico Paranaense and Botafogo have intensified the pressure on the squad, with Chapecoense failing to secure a victory in their last ten league fixtures since a 4-2 win over Santos in January.

A key issue for Verdao has been their defensive frailties; they have conceded the second-most goals (22) while also struggling to score, having failed to net in their last six away matches across all competitions.

The overall statistics illustrate the contrasting form of the two clubs, with Fluminense scoring 21 goals and conceding 15, while Chapecoense has registered 11 goals and managed only one clean sheet from their 11 matches thus far.

Team News

Fluminense will be missing several key players crucial to their squad, as German Cano, Lucho Acosta, Nonato, Matheus Reis, and Soteldo are all sidelined, which restricts Zubeldia’s attacking options.

After suffering an injury early in the recent Copa do Brasil draw with Operario, Martinelli adds to the injury list, although there is some positive news as Canobbio returns from suspension.

Venezuelan midfielder Jefferson Savarino is expected to rejoin the starting lineup after being rested, while 22-year-old Facundo Bernal is likely to partner Hercules in midfield.

In attack, Rodrigo Castillo is in fine form and anticipated to lead the line, while Guga, Guilherme Arana, Jemmes, and Freytes will likely contribute defensively.

Chapecoense faces its own set of challenges, notably the absence of Giovanni Augusto, who is currently the team’s top scorer in the league due to injury.

Defender Robert is also unavailable, and Marcos Vinicius is a doubt after exiting with an injury during the Copa do Brasil match against Botafogo on Friday.

Head coach Matias will look to reinstate veteran forward Yannick Bolasie to the starting XI, with the 36-year-old expected to take a central role in the attack after being rested during the cup fixture.

Fluminense probable starting XI:

Fabius; Guga, Jemmes, Freytes, Arana; Bernal, Hercules; Savarino, Serna, Canobbio; Castle

Chapecoense probable starting XI:

Saints; Everton, Leonardo, Doma, Pacheco; Camilo, Vitor, Meritao; Enio, Bolasie, Marcinho

With pressure mounting, Chapecoense approaches the weekend following a difficult start to their top-flight return, and they are gearing up for a challenging 90 minutes at the Maracana, where Fluminense has been formidable this season. The Tricolor has won seven of their eight home fixtures thus far, and a comfortable win seems likely.