Fluminense vs Alianza Lima Prediction: The reigning champions are the favorites

Fluminense will go into this game already qualified and with the top place in the group guaranteed. Alianza Lima is in last place with four points, one behind Cerro Porteño and Colo-Colo, who will meet in the other round meeting. If the Peruvians win at the Maracanã, they can qualify for the next stage of the Copa Libertadores if the Paraguayans and Chileans draw. Another scenario would be to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana if there is a winner in the match.

The Tricolor has just renewed the contract of Fernando Diniz, the coach who led the club to its first Copa Libertadores. The team hasn't played well this season, but the management's reassurance could be determinant to provide stability. In the second leg of the Copa do Brasil third round, Fluminense once again beat Sampaio Corrêa 2-0 to qualify for the next stage. Next weekend, the Cariocas will face Juventude in a more important match than this one against Alianza Lima.

The Blue and Whites suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat against Cusco in the Peruvian League before the decisive clash with Fluminense. In the Copa Libertadores, Alianza has four draws and one defeat, and even without winning a game, it still has a chance of qualifying. If they lose, the Peruvians will finish in last place, but if they win, they could even finish second. The fact that Fluminense has already qualified in the first place could lead Fernando Diniz to use some substitute players, slightly increasing the Lima team's chances of causing a surprise.

Fluminense will finish the group stage in first place even if it loses this game. Fernando Diniz may even make a few changes to the starting eleven, but the intention is certainly to win the match. The team needs victories to gain confidence. Alianza Lima is in last place and still dreams of qualifying, but it would have to achieve a historic result at the Maracanã to get through to the next stage of the competition. I'm backing the Brazilians to win with a maximum of four goals scored in the game.