Game Information

Saturday 30th March – Kick-off – 00:00 (GMT)

One of the games of the week in the Brasileirão sees Flamengo host Internacional in what could be a classic affair on the opening day of the 2025 season.

Flamengo

Filipe Luís’ Flamengo are flying, having won 14 of their 17 matches since the start of 2025. One of their three defeats came in the opening match of the Carioca, where a youth side played while the first team prepared in the United States.

They have already secured two pieces of silverware, winning the Supercopa with a 3-1 victory over rivals Botafogo and claiming the Campeonato Carioca with a 2-1 aggregate win over Fluminense. With such a strong start, the Rubro-Negro—early favourites for the league title—will be hungry for even more success.

Unlike other sides, Flamengo haven’t been too active in the transfer market bringing in Juninho from Qarabag and the experienced Danilo from Juventus.

Centre-back Fabricio Bruno left the club to join Cruzeiro for a fee of seven million euros.

Their last outing was a 0-0 draw over Fluminense, which was enough to secure the Carioca title.

Internacional

Internacional had a solid season last time around but fell off in the final few weeks, ending their title hopes and leaving them in fifth place.

This time, they’ll be hoping to sustain a title challenge but will need a strong start to do so.

Inter remain unbeaten in 2025, and just before the international break, they secured their first Gaucho title in nine years with a 3-1 aggregate victory over rivals Grêmio. That triumph sets them up nicely for a tough battle against Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro.

One of last season’s standout players, Alexandro Bernabei, joined the club permanently from Celtic. He was one of several signings, alongside Ronaldo, Vitinho, Johan Carbonero, Kaique Rocha, Ramon, Oscar Romero, Juninho, and Diego Rosa.

Expected Lineups

Flamengo – Rossi, Wesley, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro, Erick Pulgar, De la Cruz, Gerson, Luiz Araújo, Michael and Bruno Henrique

Internacional – Anthoni, Aguirre, Rogel, Juninho, Bernabei, Fernando, Bruno Henrique, Alan Patrick, Vitinho, Borré and Wesley

Prediction

Flamengo 3-1 Internacional