Flamengo vs. Criciuma (Saturday, 8.00pm)
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Flamengo head into gameweek 18 in the Brasileiro keen to arrest an ongoing wobble when they host Criciuma at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha on Saturday.
Third-placed Mengao are winless in two games, seeing them trail league-leading Botafogo, but they aim to notch maximum points against an opponent that have claimed one point from the last available nine.
We say: Flamengo 2-1 Criciuma
It is hard to see beyond a return to winning ways for Flamengo on Saturday, with Tite's men well-rested after their midweek match against Internacional was postponed.
Even though they may not keep a clean sheet, the ambition to challenge for the league title allied with Criciuma's ongoing away blues should see the hosts snap their two-match winless sequence in front of their fans.
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Botafogo vs. Internacional (Saturday, 10.30pm)
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Table-topping Botafogo seek a fourth straight triumph at Estadio Nilton Santos when they host off-form Internacional in round 18's Brasileiro clash on Saturday.
Artur Jorge's men secured an important victory over defending champions Palmeiras on Wednesday, opening a three-point lead atop the standings, and they seek a fifth straight league win this weekend to consolidate after that triumph.
We say: Botafogo 2-0 Internacional
Botafogo are clear favourites to notch another league victory, and they should secure a routine win over a struggling Internacional.
The title challengers have kept three straight clean sheets in the league and a fourth could be in the offing on Saturday as they extend the away side's winless sequence in all competitions to eight.
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Palmeiras vs. Cruzeiro (Sunday, 1.00am)
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Second-place Palmeiras return to Brasileiro action against Cruzeiro at Allianz Parque on Saturday after losing a top-of-the-table tussle at Botafogo on Wednesday.
Verdao slipped three points behind Fogo after the 1-0 loss, and they aim to avoid that gap extending when they face their sixth-placed opponents in this weekend's gameweek 18 action.
We say: Palmeiras 2-0 Cruzeiro
Palmeiras may have failed to win any of their opening three home fixtures this term, but they are on a roll in front of their supporters, notching six consecutive victories and keeping clean sheets in 50% of that run.
That sequence should become seven against one of the division's underwhelming travellers.
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Oliver Thomas
