Criciúma are desperate to halt a run of three straight winless Serie A matches as they travel to face Flamengo at Arena BRB Mané Garrincha

Flamengo：

Flamengo enters gameweek 18 of the Brasileiro Serie A with a determined resolve to shake off recent setbacks as they prepare to host Criciuma at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha on Saturday. Currently occupying third place in the standings, the Rio de Janeiro giants find themselves in a precarious position following consecutive winless outings. A draw against resilient Cuiaba was followed by a surprising 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fortaleza, leaving Flamengo trailing league leaders Botafogo by five points. Despite playing fewer matches than both Botafogo and Palmeiras, recent results have stymied Flamengo's bid for their first league title since 2020. The forthcoming clash against Criciuma presents an opportunity for Flamengo to reclaim their winning form on home soil after failing to secure victory in their last two matches at Maracana. A notable concern for Tite's side has been their defensive frailty, evident from a run of five consecutive games without a clean sheet, highlighting their reliance on outscoring opponents rather than shutting them out.

Criciuma：

Meanwhile, Criciuma approaches their encounter with Flamengo aiming to exploit the hosts' defensive vulnerabilities and end their own winless streak in the league. Having managed just one point from their last three matches, Criciuma's recent form includes a draw against Fluminense sandwiched between defeats to Vitoria and Corinthians. Their most recent outing saw them squander a first-half lead to succumb to a 2-1 loss against Corinthians, marking their third consecutive defeat away from home this season. Claudio Tencati's men, who are newly promoted to the top flight, face the daunting task of reversing their fortunes against a formidable Flamengo side. With defensive lapses evident in recent matches, Criciuma hopes to capitalize on Flamengo's shaky defense and secure a positive result to avoid slipping into the bottom three of the league standings.