Five goals. This is the gap Flamengo needs to close over Paulista de Jundiaí in the fight for first place in Group S of the 41st São Paulo Junior Football Cup. Next Saturday, the red-and-blacks face Taubaté at the home team's stadium in the final match of the competition's qualifying phase, needing not only a win but also a rout if they want to take first place in the group. The team from Gávea needs to make up a five-goal difference over Paulista de Jundiaí.

The situation is as follows: Flamengo and Paulista both have four points, but the Rio de Janeiro team has a goal difference of three, compared to the São Paulo team's eight. Both teams are clear favorites for their matches in the final round. Paulista faces Shallon at 14 pm, and shortly after, Flamengo faces Taubaté on Saturday. Considering the most likely results, Flamengo and Paulista should win their matches, and thus, the decision would come down to the difference between goals scored and conceded, which, for now, stands at five goals.

"We know it's a very complicated situation, but we won't be discouraged. The team talked a lot after the Paulista game and will go into this motivated to win. We'll go after the three points and, of course, try to score as many goals as possible to keep our chance of taking first place," said defender Michel Pereira.

Captain Christianno agrees. For the number 4, favoritism can't be taken into account. He believes Flamengo must enter the field thinking only of winning, before worrying about goal difference, and he doesn't rule out the possibility of an underdog in the opening match of the round. He also emphasizes the importance of entering the field knowing exactly what result they need.

"We're confident we can score a big win too. But first we have to win the match. The most important thing is that we cheer first, then we play. We still believe they'll draw there too," he analyzed.