**Fluminense host Palmeiras in a midweek Libertadores showdown, and the Maracanã should be *loud* — but Flu's injury woes might just be the deciding factor.** 🏟️

Fluminense have been hot-and-cold lately (2W, 3L), riding the high of a 4-0 demolition of Coritiba but crashing to a derby loss at home. Palmeiras, meanwhile, are rolling: three wins in five and only one defeat, with firepower to match. The head-to-head leans Palmeiras (21 wins to Flu's 18), and that experience counts.

Key storylines:

- **Fluminense's injury crisis is brutal** — Alisson, Cano, John Kennedy, and Felipe all out leaves the attack stretched thin
- **Palmeiras' three-defender setup** and control in the middle keeps them compact against a wounded opponent
- **Hulk and Soteldo** need to drag Fluminense through, but without their usual supporting cast it's a tall order

Expected lineups:

- **Fluminense**: Fábio, Renê, Martinelli, J. Millán, T. Silva, Nonato, Y. Soteldo, Hulk, Ganso, A. Canobbio, R. Castillo
- **Palmeiras**: C. Miguel, J. Piquerez, Murilo, G. Gómez, A. Giay, M. Freitas, A. Pereira, L. Evangelista, F. Anderson, J. López, J. Arias

Prediction:

**Palmeiras 2–1 Fluminense.** Flu scraps hard at home but depth runs out against a sharper, healthier side. 🎯