🇧🇷 Brasileirão Week 15: Inter-city rivalry as Rio and São Paulo collide | OneFootball

We’ve reached Round 15 of the Brasileirão, with several teams coming into the weekend on the back of exertions in Conmebol competition.

That heightens the chance of fatigue playing its part, with massive encounters between clubs from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in the offing.

These encounters see Fluminense host Corinthians and Flamengo visit Santos (both on Saturday), while Bragantino and Botafogo continue the inter-city rivalry on Monday.

For those who are outside Brazil, you can follow all the action on OneFootball…

Fluminense v Corinthians – (Saturday)

The situation these two teams find themselves in could not be more different.

Fluminense have had a full week to prepare, while Corinthians travel to the Maracanã in the middle of a crucial Copa Libertadores round of 16 clash with Argentine giants Boca Juniors.

The first leg finished 0-0 in midweek, leaving the Timão with a major hurdle to overcome in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

It is quite possible that Vítor Pereira will feel obliged to start some of his younger fringe players. Fluminense manager Fernando Diniz, on the other hand, does not need to worry about resting anyone.

Santos v Flamengo – (Saturday)

Both these sides played abroad in midweek in advance of this fixture in Vila Belmiro.

With this challenge in mind, Santos brought a weakened squad to Venezuela for their Copa Sudamericana tie with Deportivo Táchira that finished 1-1.

Flamengo will no longer have midfielder Andreas Pereira (their Libertadores matchwinner against Tolima in Colombia in midweek) at their disposal after his loan deal from parent club Manchester United expired.

It will be a return to their old stomping ground for some of the Flamengo party, as manager Dorival Júnior, as well as players Thiago Maia and Gabriel Barbosa used to be on the books of the Peixe.

Juventude v Atlético Mineiro – (Saturday)

Defending champions Atlético Mineiro currently find themselves in fifth, but the Galo will view this as a massive opportunity to close that gap to the leaders.

Cursed with the leakiest defence in the division, relegation candidates Juventude have failed to win any of their last five league games and will face the second-highest scorers in the top flight.

Ceará v Internacional – (Saturday)

Another battle between sides that had games abroad in midweek.

Ceará, who have drawn five of their last six league encounters, will draw confidence from the comeback win against Bolivian side The Strongest in the Sudamericana.

It was a less successful trip for Internacional as they lost 2-0 at Colo-Colo in Chile in the same competition.

Palmeiras vs Athletico Paranaense – (Saturday)

One of the most intriguing fixtures of the weekend, Allianz Parque hosts the duel between leaders Palmeiras and third-placed Athletico Paranaense.

Both sides enjoyed Libertadores victories over Paraguayan opposition in midweek (against Cerro Porteño and Libertad respectively).

They are also the two form teams in Serie A, as Palmeiras are unbeaten in 13 games and the Furacão haven’t tasted defeat in their last eight outings.

Avaí v Cuiabá – (Sunday)

Avaí have suffered ​​only one defeat at home so far this league season, and remain in a comfortable the mid-table position.

Third-from-bottom Cuiabá have lost all five games on the road so far this term, and are winless in their last four games home and away.

This has home banker written all over it.

Atlético Goianiense v São Paulo – (Sunday)

São Paulo have yet to win away from home in the Brasileirão, and so will not be relishing this trip to Goiânia.

On the other hand, the two sides had contrasting fortunes in their Sudamericana round of 16 first legs.

Atlético were beaten 2-0 by Olimpia in Paraguay, while the Tricolor beat Universidad Católica 4-2 in Chile.

Coritiba v Fortaleza – (Sunday)

Coritiba’s run of four defeats and two draws in their last six games has seen the Coxa dragged into the relegation battle.

They will surely see a home game against bottom side Fortaleza as a must-win in the circumstances.

América Mineiro v Goiás – (Sunday)

América-MG may not have scored in their last five league games but their 3-0 win Copa do Brasil win over Botagofo on Thursday will have lifted spirits.

Fellow strugglers Goiás broke a streak of five games without a win when they overcame Cuiabá last weekend.

RB Bragantino v Botafogo – (Monday)

A real mid-table affair, with both sides coming into the game on 18 points.

They also both suffered league defeats last weekend, but the visitors had the added blow of that cup defeat to América-MG.

It’s shaping up to be another mouthwatering weekend of Brasileirão action.