RIO DE JANEIRO (Interstat) — A stark contrast in form will be on display Sunday when Flamengo hosts Santos in a Carioca Série A matchup at Maracanã Stadium.

Flamengo (24-5-7) enters the contest as the clear class of the competition, while Santos (6-12-7) has struggled immensely, sitting near the bottom of the table. The disparity extends to overall campaigns, with Flamengo boasting a dominant 53-11-20 record across all tournaments compared to Santos’s subpar 22-29-18 mark.

Recent results further highlight the gap. Flamengo is coming off a 2-2 draw with Sao Paulo on Wednesday, a result that extended its unbeaten run in the league. Santos, meanwhile, is reeling from a 2-0 loss to Palmeiras on Thursday and has won just once in its last five outings.

Despite the lopsided statistics, the recent head-to-head history provides a glimmer of hope for the visitors. The two sides last met on July 16, with Santos securing a 1-0 victory. However, replicating that feat at a packed Maracanã against a Flamengo side that has lost only five times all season in domestic play is a monumental task.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 1-1 draw, suggesting Santos’s resilience in this specific rivalry could play a factor.

Following this match, Flamengo will travel to face Sport Recife on Nov. 15, while Santos will host Palmeiras on the same date.