Turning the page. That has been the mantra repeated since the final whistle of Fluminense’s 2-2 draw with Vitória last Saturday. Now, the priority is to put the Brasileirão aside and focus on the Copa do Brasil, where they face Operário this Tuesday at the Maracanã. The match carries significant weight: an early elimination would deepen the current crisis, while a victory could mark a fresh start before the decisive Conmebol Libertadores clashes.
Internally, Fluminense is working hard to ensure that the focus on the Libertadores—especially the crucial match against Bolívar on May 19—does not distract from the Copa do Brasil. On Tuesday, a win against Operário is essential, as the first leg in Ponta Grossa ended in a 0-0 draw.
Beyond simply advancing, the clash against Operário also serves as a vital preparation for the Libertadores. Both competitions share key elements: they are knockout ties where defeat means elimination, and Fluminense must win to progress. In the Copa do Brasil, a single goal would be enough; in the Libertadores, they will need to score twice to stay alive and three to secure a place in the next round.
A victory over Operário is also crucial to improve the atmosphere at Laranjeiras. In their first home match of this stretch, they only managed a draw against Vitória. Now, they need to turn the page. The team will also face São Paulo at the Maracanã before the decisive Libertadores fixture against Bolívar.
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John Kennedy e Lucho Acosta em Fluminense x Vitória — Foto: André Durão
Fluminense’s May schedule:
– 12/05 — 21:30 – Copa do Brasil: Fluminense vs. Operário-PR
– 16/05 — 20:30 – Brasileirão: Fluminense vs. São Paulo
– 19/05 — 19:00 – Libertadores: Fluminense vs. Bolívar
– 23/05 — 19:00 – Brasileirão: Mirassol vs. Fluminense
– 27/05 — 21:30 – Libertadores: Fluminense vs. La Guaira
– 31/05 — 20:30 – Brasileirão: Cruzeiro vs. Fluminense
It is worth noting that Operário is also going through an inconsistent period. Last Saturday, the team from Paraná suffered a 3-0 defeat to CRB away from home in the Brazilian Série B, despite fielding their starters.