Fluminense vs Grêmio Prediction: Grêmio is winning at half-time

Fluminense and Grêmio will meet at the Maracanã to decide which team goes through to the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores. The Gaúchos won the first leg 2-1 at home and are ahead at half-time in the knock-out round. Fluminense is the trophy holder and will be looking to turn the tide.

After four consecutive wins in the Brasileirão, the Tricolor das Laranjeiras seem to have lost some confidence, possibly caused by the elimination from the Copa do Brasil against Juventude. Fluminense hasn't won in four matches, and its recent record against Grêmio is terrible, losing the previous eight meetings. The Cariocas must overcome the trauma to move forward in the competition. In the first leg, Fluminense opened the scoring through Lima in the 58th minute but inexplicably conceded two goals in three minutes, showing great psychological fragility. In the last round of the Brasileirão, Flu drew 0-0 with Corinthians at home in a game without much emotion, and the situation in the league is still tricky.

After the first leg of the Copa Libertadores Round of 16, Renato Portaluppi benched some players against Bahia and paid the price for his decision. Grêmio lost 2-0 at home, interrupting a run of five games without defeat in the Série A. The Porto Alegre club has won the Copa Libertadores three times, so the priority, at this point, is to progress to the quarter-finals. The 2-1 victory over Fluminense in Curitiba was very motivating, and the Gaúchos will fight to the end for qualification.

There is no extra time in the Copa Libertadores knockout rounds, which means that if Fluminense wins by one goal, the teams will decide their passage to the quarter-finals by penalty shootout. Grêmio has beaten Fluminense the last eight times the teams have met, so it has a psychological advantage over its opponent. The Cariocas will have to overcome the paralysis they feel when they play against Grêmio. The first leg's result was very close so anything can happen in this tie. Even so, I consider the Gaúchos the favorites to progress in the Copa Libertadores as they won the first leg and have a superior record, both against Fluminense and in the competition. I'm betting on a Double Chance in favor of Grêmio.