Fluminense vs. Remo – News and Probable Lineups

Fluminense aims to continue their recent positive momentum as they host Remo at the Maracana for the 24th round of the 2026 Brasileiro on Saturday.

Flu enters this fixture brimming with confidence following their penalty shootout victory over Independiente Rivadavia in the Copa Libertadores and a 3-2 win over Palmeiras, both achievements coming under interim head coach Marcao. In contrast, Remo is struggling, winless in their last five matches and currently occupies the 18th position in the standings, placing them in the relegation zone.

Match overview

Fluminense’s 1-1 draw against Independiente Rivadavia marked yet another twist in the Tricolor’s thrilling season. Kevin Serna netted first for Flu in the second half, only for Alex Arce to score an equalizer in injury time, leading to penalties.

With Hulk, Savarino, and Ganso unavailable for the shootout, Fluminense faced a daunting situation: they hadn’t emerged victorious in a penalty shootout since 2024, against Gremio in the Copa Libertadores Round of 16. Subsequent attempts had seen them succumb in shootouts to Vasco during the 2025 Copa do Brasil semi-final and to Flamengo in the Carioca final.

This time, however, the outcome was different. The shootout ended 5-4, with Flu converting five penalties and missing one, while Rivadavia failed to convert two. This success propelled Fluminense into the Libertadores quarter-finals, where they will take on Estudiantes.

Emerging from the shootout, alongside the recent triumph over Palmeiras in the Brasileirao (goals scored by Hulk, Kevin Serna, and German Cano), has infused the squad with confidence, especially considering they had been relying heavily on draws prior, recording six in their last nine matches before these two victories.

Marcao, the interim coach following Zubeldia’s exit, is credited with this turnaround. Fans are already discussing the so-called “Marcao effect,” and the statistics support the enthusiasm: securing qualification in the Libertadores and defeating the league leaders in his first two matches at the helm. The club is still determining a permanent head coach for the remainder of 2026, leaving Marcao in charge as the team morale remains elevated.

Currently, Fluminense holds the fourth position in the Brasileirao with 38 points (10 wins, 8 draws, 5 losses). Their home performance stands out as their key advantage: eight victories, three draws, and only one defeat in 12 home matches (27 points earned out of a possible 36, according to FBref) — the best home record among the top six teams. The last clash between these two teams occurred in March, where Flu secured a 2-0 away win.

Remo arrives at the Maracana without other competitions to divert their attention. After being eliminated from the Copa do Brasil by Santos (1-0 on aggregate), Leao Azul’s focus is solely on the Brasileirao for the remainder of the year.

Currently in 18th place with 23 points (5 wins, 8 draws, 10 losses) — tied on points with Mirassol (17th) — Leonardo Conde’s team finds itself in the relegation zone and must gather points on the road to avoid dropping down a division.

Regrettably, their away form does not inspire much hope. They have claimed just two wins, recorded three draws, and faced seven losses in 12 away games (amassing nine points out of a possible 36, according to FBref), making it the third-worst away record in Serie A.

The team has gone five matches without a win, with three draws and two losses, and while they have earned points from their last two draws (2-2 against Atletico-MG and 1-1 against Internacional), these were not enough to change their negative trend.

The disparity in goal difference illustrates the gap between the two teams: Fluminense is at +6 (34 goals scored, 28 conceded), whereas Remo stands at -10 (27 goals scored, 37 conceded).

Remo’s defence concedes an average of 1.61 goals per game (FBref), making it the fifth weakest in the league, and they will visit a Fluminense side that averages 2.25 goals per game at home.

Team News

Fluminense will miss several key players for their match against Remo. Lucho Acosta, who leads the club in assists with four in 19 matches, and Guga, a right-back with 14 games and two assists, are both suspended due to accumulated bookings. John Kennedy, the team’s leading scorer with nine goals in 18 appearances, is undergoing treatment with no set return date.

Jefferson Savarino (three goals, two assists in 18 matches) is also sidelined, in addition to Riquelme Felipe, Igor Rabello, and Matheus Reis. In total, this amounts to seven players unavailable, which includes the top scorer, the assist leader, and the primary attacking midfielder. Marcao will likely need to rearrange his lineup, potentially fielding Nonato to replace Acosta, Samuel Xavier in Guga’s place, and either Cano or Hulk leading the attacking front.

Remo will arrive nearly at full strength, with just two players absent: left-back Mayk, who has made 14 appearances and provided one assist this season, and midfielder Edson Fernando, who has featured in only one of the club’s 23 matches. These absences are significantly less impactful compared to those impacting Fluminense.

Leonardo Conde is expected to maintain the same core lineup from recent fixtures, focusing on defensive strength in an attempt to suppress Flu’s attack at the Maracana. Remo will need to capitalize on counter-attacking opportunities as they are unlikely to have significant control of possession.

Fluminense probable starting XI:

Fabio; Samuel Xavier, Jemmes, Millan and Guilherme Arana; Martinelli and Hercules; Canobbio, Ganso and Soteldo; Hulk. Head coach: Marcao (assistant coach).

Remo probable starting XI:

Marcelo Rangel; Marcelinho, Marllon, Ivaldo and Marlon; Wilson and Picco; Pikachu, Vitor Bueno and Jaja; Guilherme Taliari. Head coach: Leo Conde.

Fluminense arrives in high spirits after achieving two significant victories under interim coach Marcao, and sitting within the top five of the Brasileiro, they will be keen to preserve their attacking spark and remain close to the leading teams.

Conversely, Remo finds themselves in a contrasting position, entrenched in the relegation zone and battling for consistency. Their poor record against Fluminense, having never bested them, adds to the challenge they face.