Flamengo will be aiming to reduce the deficit to Brasileiro leaders Botafogo when they host America Mineiro on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, will head into the contest lying at the bottom of the table.

Match preview

After finishing fifth in Serie A last season, Flamengo would have been hoping to challenge for Brazil's domestic title this time around, especially having attracted former Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli as their head coach in April.

On the face of it, sitting second in the table after 15 games represents a perfectly reasonable return, yet they already find themselves 12 points behind the irrepressible Botafogo at the summit.

There remains plenty of the season for Flamengo to reduce that chunky gap, of course, but retaining the Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil may prove to be more realistic ambitions after winning both competitions last time out.

Indeed, the last four years have been a hugely successful period for Urubu, with two domestic titles and two Copa Libetadores triumphs, plus the club's fourth domestic cup coming as the cherry on top.

Sampaoli, though, will be determined to add to that growing trophy cabinet himself. After seeing his side draw their last two league games, he will know that they cannot afford to drop more points against the division's weakest team so far this season.

Having enjoyed two successive top-half finishes in Brazil's top flight, America Mineiro have reverted to their historical type by seemingly being involved in a relegation battle this time around.

Vagner Mancini's side have failed to win any of their last five league games, with nine points from 14 matches representing a measly return given the calibre of players that the club possesses.

However, they should travel to Rio de Janeiro with improved confidence after thrashing Chilean Primera Division champions Colo-Colo 5-1 in midweek, with this proving more than enough to see them advance to the last 16 of the Copa Sudamericana after only losing 2-1 in last week's first leg in Santiago.

Mancini will be determined to take this level of performance into their league campaign, although he will recognise that their chances of avoiding defeat against one of Brazil's biggest clubs on Saturday are relatively slim.

Team News

Flamengo will be without Luiz Araujo due to suspension after the forward was dismissed in the seventh minute of injury-time against Fluminense last time out, having only entered the field as a substitute.

Erick Pulgar, Bruno Henrique and Mateuzinho are expected to remain sidelined through injury, but Allan should be fit enough to start in the hosts' engine room.

America Mineiro, meanwhile, will travel without Mikael, Ricardo Silva, Dada Belmonte and Adyson due to various injury issues.

Despite the relatively short turnaround between fixtures, Sampaoli may reward the side that thrashed Colo-Colo in midweek with the opportunity to impress him once again versus their opponents this weekend.

Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Queiroz; Franca, Luiz, Pereira, Luis; Allan, Gerson; Ribeiro, De Arrascaeta, Everton; Gabriel

America Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Pasinato; Kal, Eder, Julio; Rodriguinho, Ale, Breno, Vichiatto; Matheusinho, Varanda; Mastriani

We say: Flamengo 2-0 America Mineiro

Flamengo will have been frustrated by drawing two successive league games, allowing Botafogo to extend their lead at the top to 12 points.

However, we expect them to return to winning ways against a potentially fatigued America Mineiro side who, despite advancing in the Copa Sudamericana in midweek in some style, are unlikely to turn a corner quite so quickly after making a disappointing start to their league campaign.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Previews by email