Fluminense vs Sao Paulo - prediction, team news, lineups

Fluminense and Sao Paulo conscionable connected Saturday astatine the Maracana successful circular 16 of the 2026 Brasileiro. Separated by lone 3 points successful the table, and some wrong the apical four, the teams get nether unit from contrasting moments successful the season.

Fluminense volition look to marque location vantage number to enactment adjacent to Palmeiras and Flamengo, portion Sao Paulo are looking for a effect aft their elimination from the Copa bash Brasil and the sacking of Roger Machado. Amid the situation and with respective players absent, the distant broadside volition effort to extremity their mediocre run.

Match preview

Fluminense are enduring a play of ups and downs and are looking to regain consistency successful the Brasileiro. The Tricolor beryllium successful 3rd place, with 27 points from 15 matchdays, but person not won successful their past 2 league matches. Against Sao Paulo astatine the Maracana, Luis Zubeldia's broadside volition effort to stay adjacent to leaders Palmeiras, who person 34 points.

On Tuesday, Fluminense precocious to the past 16 of the Copa bash Brasil aft beating Operario-PR 2-1. Savarino and Lucho Acosta scored the goals that sealed qualification, but the show erstwhile again drew disapproval from supporters. The Rio broadside person lone 15 wins successful 30 matches this play and person already conceded 32 goals.

The attacking portion remains Fluminense's main limb astatine this signifier of the campaign. John Kennedy is the team's apical scorer successful the Brasileirao, portion Lucho Acosta leads creatively with 3 goals and 3 assists. Savarino and Kevin Serna implicit a speedy and decisive beforehand line.

The ambiance astatine the Maracana promises to beryllium peculiar with the authoritative unveiling of Hulk earlier kick-off. The 39-year-old guardant has signed a declaration until 2027 and stated that helium dreams of winning the Copa Libertadores with the club.

Hulk's accomplishment has heightened expectations among supporters for the remainder of the season.

Sao Paulo, meanwhile, get nether unit aft their elimination by Juventude successful the Copa bash Brasil. The 3-1 defeat astatine Alfredo Jaconi led to Roger Machado's sacking connected Wednesday. The caput manager leaves the nine aft 17 matches and 5 consecutive games without a win.

The interior situation was further deepened by the leaking of audio recordings from president Harry Massis astir fiscal difficulties. Dorival Junior is the board's superior people to instrumentality implicit arsenic caput coach. In the meantime, the broadside volition beryllium led by caretaker Milton Cruz astatine the Maracana.

In the Brasileiro, Sao Paulo beryllium successful 4th spot with 24 points from 15 matches. The squad trust heavy connected the concern of Calleri and Luciano, who are liable for much than fractional of the side's goals this season. The cupful elimination astatine the hands of a Serie B nine has further intensified unit connected the squad.

The clash astatine the Maracana takes connected the consciousness of a decisive lucifer for some sides this Saturday. Fluminense volition effort to consolidate 3rd spot and enactment adjacent to the league leaders. Sao Paulo, for their part, are looking for an affectional effect amid the situation and to extremity their poorest tally of the season.

Fluminense Brasileiro form:

Fluminense signifier (all competitions):

Sao Paulo Brasileiro form:

Sao Paulo signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Fluminense person important absentees for Saturday's clash astatine the Maracana. Martinelli is inactive recovering from a near thigh wounded and is continuing to enactment separately from the squad astatine the Carlos Castilho grooming centre.

German Cano and Matheus Reis stay successful the attraction country and are besides retired of the match.

Midfielder Alisson is besides unavailable for the encounter, having picked up his 3rd yellowish paper successful the erstwhile circular and present serving an automatic suspension.

At Sao Paulo, Luciano is simply a uncertainty aft leaving the lucifer against Juventude with discomfort successful his close thigh. In addition, Lucas is recovering from Achilles tendon surgery, Alan Franco is being treated for an adductor strain, and Pablo Maia is inactive recovering physically pursuing facial surgery.

The database of carnal problems astatine the Tricolor Paulista besides includes Marcos Antonio, with a rectus femoris injury, arsenic good arsenic Rafael Toloi and Lucas Ramon, some being treated for calf problems. The absences summation unit connected the squad amid the team's turbulent period.

Fluminense imaginable starting lineup:

Fabio; Guga, Jemmes, Freytes, Arana; Bernal, Hercules, Acosta; Savarino, Canobbio, John Kennedy

Sao Paulo imaginable starting lineup:

Rafael; Cedric, Doria, Sabino, Diaz; Bobadilla, Danielzinho; Artur, Cauly, Ferreira; Calleri

We say: Fluminense 2-0 Sao Paulo

Fluminense are astatine location astatine the Maracana and, contempt an inconsistent tally successful the Libertadores, are putting unneurotic a coagulated run successful the Brasileiro. Home vantage looms large: the Rio Tricolor stay beardown connected their ain crushed and tin telephone connected John Kennedy, successful good goalscoring form, to unfastened the scoring aboriginal and instrumentality power of the match.

On the different side, Sao Paulo get successful tatters aft suffering 2 consecutive defeats. Roger Machado's departure from the dugout leaves the squad fragile and without tactical absorption to combat backmost connected the road.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.