"Sunday, I’m going to the Maracanã…"
The song, composed and performed by Neguinho da Beija-Flor and one that has fired up Rio fans for decades, will certainly be sung by Flamengo and Fluminense supporters today, April 12, at the Biggest in the World!
At 6 p.m. (Brasília time), Flamengo and Fluminense face off at the Maracanã in a match valid for the 11th round of the 2026 Brasileirão.
However, the derby is already heating up even before the ball starts rolling.
📸 PABLO PORCIUNCULA – AFP or licensors
That is because the game had initially been scheduled by the CBF for Saturday (11).
However, after Flamengo’s board requested that it be postponed to this Sunday (12), due to a delay in the flight that brought the squad from Peru to Rio de Janeiro, Fluminense agreed to the request, sparking the anger of its own fans.
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Well, regardless of any disagreement behind the scenes, the fact is that the ball will roll at the Maracanã and the derby promises plenty.
Fluminense are currently second with 20 points, behind Palmeiras (25 points).
Flamengo, meanwhile, sit in fifth place with 17 points.
However, with a simple win, Flamengo would overtake Fluminense since they already have the better goal difference (+7 to +6).
Compared to the last match (a 0-0 draw with La Guaira in the Libertadores), coach Luis Zubeldía opted only to bring in Kevin Serna for Savarino in the Fluminense lineup.
As for Flamengo, who are coming off a 2-0 win over Cusco, also in the continental tournament, coach Leonardo Jardim chose to start Varela, Léo Ortiz, Alex Sandro, Arrascaeta, Samuel Lino and Pedro in place of Emerson Royal, Danilo, Ayrton Lucas, De La Cruz, Carrascal and Bruno Henrique, respectively.
📋 See Fluminense’s lineup
📋 See Flamengo’s lineup
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
