For Caio Júnior, there are still many points to be disputed

LANCEPRESS!

According to Caio Júnior, a team has a good chance of winning the championship if it earns 70 points. But after the loss to São Paulo, the title dream became more distant. Even so, confidence in Gávea remains the same, especially since most of the games in this final stretch will be at Maracanã.

Of the remaining 13 matches, nine will be in Rio—two of which will be derbies: Vasco da Gama and Botafogo. There are plenty of points to be won in front of the home crowd.

"There are 27 points up for grabs in Rio, and a lot will happen. There have been worse situations, and this group managed to get ahead," said Caio Júnior.

Even if Flamengo manages a 100% record (which is very difficult) in these games, they would only reach 67 points. They would still need three points to reach 70.

The difficulty becomes even more evident when the statistics are presented. For mathematician Tristão Garcia, Flamengo is actually fighting for the Libertadores. The title has become even more distant after the loss to São Paulo, a direct rival in this battle.

"Flamengo is a contender for the Libertadores. Their chances of qualifying are 37%. To win the title, they'll need a miracle. They have a 3% chance. The teams chasing the title are stronger than last year. And Flamengo is far from the champion average. They'd need to score two points per game," said Tristão.

Currently, the team averages 1,6 points per game. But these numbers don't discourage those most responsible for maintaining the sixth-title dream.

"We have two home games now (Ipatinga and Sport). If we win, the team will gain that morale and go. The fans also give us that boost. The fans can be sure we're confident, and they can be too. Flamengo is alive and well in the title race, and the fight is good," says forward Marcelinho Paraíba.

And for those who don't believe in Fla, Léo Moura has an answer.

"I believe in the title because I trust our team. Last year they said we'd be relegated. Where have we ended up? Football is on the field, not off it. At the end of the championship, we'll see who's who," challenged Léo Moura.