Fluminense have not started the Brazilian Serie A season well obtaining just eight points from 27 possible. They have a chance on Tuesday night to kickstart their season against Ceara, who sit just two points higher in the table.
Ceara have collected nine points from 27 possible going into Tuesday’s fixture. The Grandpa head into the fixture winless in their last three league matches. Twьo of those games were defeats as Santos and Vasco da Gama won by 1-0 scorelines, respectively.
Tuesday’s match between the Brazilian rivals is a true six-point affair. A victory could make or break the teams’ seasons as nearly a third of the term is over.
Home team Fluminense are winless in their last four games. The good news for manager Fernando Diniz is his team has drawn back to back fixtures. Those draws have offered a lifeline to the team although they did both show just how wayward Fluminense are in front of goal.
Fluminense have scored seven goals in their last six matches in the league. In three of those matches, Big Flu were held to clean sheets. Despite Fluminense’s lack of scoring in recent games, they actually have tallied the sixth most goals in Serie A (13).
Ceara, on the other hand, have scored 10 times while conceding nine goals. Grandpa haven’t scored a goal in their last 270 minutes of football as they were shut out in three straight league games. If Ceara cannot find the back of the net against Fluminense, it could be crisis time at the club.
Fluminense and Ceara have met just six times since 2010 in Serie A. Fluminense have posted a 3W-1D-2L record against Ceara during that timeframe.
Their last two matches, played in 2018, saw Ceara pick up four points from a possible six. Both fixtures ended with under 2.5 goals scored and only one team scoring.
Ceara have seen 18 total league and state tournament matches this season end in under 2.5 goals scored. Eleven of those matches came on the road. Three of Fluminense’s last six matches have finished with under 2.5 goals tallied.
Tuesday’s fixture will be low on goals as Fluminense and Ceara meet at the Maracana Stadium. Fluminense’s recent improved play will help them past Ceara who will continue to struggle on their travels.
Expect under 2.5 goals with just one team scoring when Fluminense host Ceara.