Flamengo vs Internacional Prediction: Reigning champions to get up and running after last week’s loss

After following up an opening round defeat to Sao Paulo (2-1) in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A with a Supercopa do Brasil loss to Corinthians (0-2) last Sunday, reigning champions Flamengo will be desperate to get their season up and running on Wednesday (22:00 GMT) with a win over Internacional at the Maracana.

Below are my Flamengo vs Internacional predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this midweek meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

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Team News

Ex-Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, who was sent off in Sao Paulo last week, will serve a suspension against Internacional, while Saul Niguez (heel) is injured.

Lucas Paqueta, who left Flamengo for Europe in 2019, is likely to feature for Filipe Luis' side on Wednesday after making his second debut in the Supercopa do Brasil last weekend.

Football Odds

As for Paulo Pezzolano's Internacional, Thiago Maia could make his first league appearance of the season, while the likes of Johan Carbonero and Braian Aguirre could earn promotions to the starting XI.

Flamengo vs Internacional Odds

Flamengo, undefeated in the last seven head-to-heads across all competitions (W4, D3), the last three of which they have won, are 2/5 favourites to collect all three points on Wednesday, implying a 71.4% probability of success, while Internacional are 13/2, or a 13.3% chance, to record a first victory over Flamengo at the Maracana since August 2021.

Player to Receive a Card - Erick Pulgar (FLA) @ 2/1

Flamengo midfielder Erick Pulgar has a 100% card success record against Internacional, having been booked in all three previous appearances against them.

The Chile international was cautioned in the 64th minute of a 1-1 league draw at the Maracana last March for a foul on Carbonero, while he was shown a yellow in a stalemate by the same scoreline at the Estadio Beira-Rio in October 2024 for an offence committed against Wesley.

In his first outing against Internacional, a goalless draw at the Maracana in August 2023, he made five fouls and was booked for a foul on Bruno Henrique.

Today's Football Fixtures

So, that's a card per season - and appearance - against Internacional, and the 32-year-old is primed to maintain that record on Wednesday.

Bruno Henrique and Carbonero, two players who have previously tempted Pulgar into making a yellow-card worthy challenge, are likely to start for Internacional in midweek, with the latter, who averaged 2.7 fouls won per game in Serie A last season, drawing a booking from Athletico Paranaense's Juan Portilla last week, just 10 minutes after coming on.

Pulgar, who committed four fouls in Sunday's Supercopa do Brasil and averaged 1.4 fouls per game in Serie A last season, is my best bet to be booked on Wednesday.

Bet Builder - Flamengo to Win, Over 4.5 Flamengo Corners & Leo Ortiz (FLA) 1+ Shots @ 2/1

Last season, Flamengo finished 35 points clear of Internacional, who only avoided relegation by one point and one place. The Rubro-Negro also dominated the head-to-head last year, winning home (1-0) and away (0-2) in the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores, as well as avoiding defeat in Serie A, drawing 1-1 in Rio before claiming a 3-1 victory in Porto Alegre.

Like Flamengo, Internacional made a losing start to their league campaign last week, going down 1-0 at home to recently-promoted Athletico Paranaense, and their away record (W3, D5, L11) was atrocious last season, so backing the side who went unbeaten (W14, D5) in the league at home in 2025 looks like the obvious play here.

In three of last year's four head-to-heads, Flamengo took at least four corners, including five in their league success at the Estadio Beira-Rio. Filipe Luis' side took six in their first league game this season at Sao Paulo, and after back-to-back defeats, I expect Flamengo to put their opponents under plenty of pressure at the Maracana, so expect the corner count to rise in favour of the hosts.

On the subject of corners, don't be surprised to see Flamengo defender Leo Ortiz get his head on one or two deliveries into the box.

The 30-year-old, who averaged 0.7 shots per game in Serie A last season, saw a header miss the target in both away matches against International last year and recorded three shots across two appearances last week against Sao Paulo (one) and Corinthians (two).