After a 0-0 draw in the Copa do Brasil opening leg last week, Corinthians and Flamengo have it all to play for in the decisive final match at the Maracana on Wednesday.
Last Wednesday was the first time since 2017 that a final match in this competition wound up goalless, as both clubs seek their fourth Copa do Brasil trophy.
Match preview
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Despite plenty of attacking intent on both sides in the opening half a week ago, no one could find that decisive breakthrough as Mengao failed to find the back of the net for the second time this month.
There were 16 shots taken in the first half of the opening leg as Flamengo kept its unbeaten record away from home at this tournament intact.
Urubu seemed to settle into the fixture at Corinthians Arena much quicker than the home side, perhaps because being in the final of this competition is familiar territory for them, having now participated in the second-most Copa do Brasil finals ever (eight), counting this one.
Their manager Dorival Junior also knows this competition well, as he led Santos to the title in 2010, the only one for Peixe in their entire history.
On Saturday, Mengao extended its unbeaten run at home to three straight matches in all competition, blanking the reigning Brasileiro Serie A champions Atletico Mineiro 1-0, collecting a second consecutive shutout at the Maracana.
That historic venue has been very good to Flamengo at this season's competition, where the home side have not conceded throughout the tournament, with their last home defeat at the Copa do Brasil coming in the 2021 semi-finals against Athletico Paranaense (3-0).
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In their first final since 2018, Corinthians failed to take advantage of their home field, firing just three shots on target as they could not find the back of the net at Corinthians Arena for the first time since August.
As a result, Vitor Pereira's men will have to do something that this club have only managed to achieve once in six previous attempts, win a Copa do Brasil final away from home.
Corinthians have never captured the title when tied or behind following the opening leg of the Copa do Brasil final.
Playing on the road has been a struggle for Timao in the 2022 competition, as they are winless in four away fixtures thus far, a run which began with a 1-1 draw versus Serie D side Portuguesa RJ.
They come into this decisive encounter without a victory on the road in eight successive games in all competitions, a run that included a 1-0 defeat at the Maracana in August versus Flamengo in the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores.
Corinthians have not captured a national trophy since winning the league in 2017, but they have not lost a competitive fixture since September, earning a result in five successive matches in all competitions.
Team News
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Goalkeeper Aberbar Santos has not conceded in back-to-back matches in all competitions for Flamengo, posting three successive shutouts against Corinthians.
On Saturday, Joao Gomes was the only player that began the match at Corinthians Arena to keep his place in the starting 11, while Fabricio Bruno, Everton and Victor Hugo, who were all substitutes last Wednesday, all started against Atletico Mineiro.
Rodrigo Caio is out until the end of the month because of a sore knee, while Erick Pulgar should be back around that same time after sustaining an ankle injury.
Giuliano needs a brace in this decisive match for Corinthians to overtake Fluminense's German Cano for the lead and the Golden Boot at the 2022 Copa do Brasil, while Cassio has not posted a clean sheet away from home since drawing Boca Juniors 0-0 in the round of 16 at the Copa Libertadores.
Pereira only added one new face to his starting 11 last Wednesday from the side that began the second leg of their semi-final versus Flu, with Adson taking the place of Gustavo Silva in the midfield.
Ruan Oliveira is not expected to play in this fixture as he continues to deal with an ACL injury which should keep him out until late October.
Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Santos; Luis, Pereira, Luiz, Rodinei; Vidal, Maia, Ribeiro; De Arrascaeta; Pedro, Barbosa
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Cassio; Fagner, Balbuena, Gil, Fabio Santos; Augusto, Giuliano, Vera; Adson, Alberto, Guedes
We say: Flamengo 2-0 Corinthians
Corinthians do not look nearly as comfortable or confident on the road as they do at home, and they have not had much success at the Maracana, losing their last six matches played there in all competitions, finding the back of the net in only two of those games.
Flamengo have been in their share of major finals of late, and those experiences should serve as a great motivator for them to claim their first domestic title of the year and their first Copa do Brasil trophy since 2013.
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