Fluminense will face Flamengo on Sunday, June 12, at the Maracanã in the 11th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro, with Samuel Xavier saying the squad has prepared well for one of its biggest games of the campaign. The defender said Fluminense expects to play a strong match and chase victory in the Rio derby.
Speaking in official material released by the club's press office, Xavier said the team had been working well and that it was ready to deliver a big performance. He added that winning a classic is always important and brings confidence, and said Fluminense is prepared to play a great game.
Fluminense enters the match in second place with 20 points after starting the round in third and moving up when São Paulo lost 2-0 to Vitória on Saturday. The result also kept Fluminense within five points of leader Palmeiras, giving the club a chance to stay close at the top of the table.
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The game matters just as much for Flamengo, which has 17 points and can draw level with Fluminense if it wins. If that happens, Flamengo would hold the advantage on goal difference, adding another layer to a match that already carries weight in the league race. For Fluminense, the Maracanã meeting is more than a derby. It is a test of whether its strong start can hold under pressure.
