Flamengo will have to live with the favoritism once again. This Wednesday, coach Andrade's team hosts Universidad Católica at 21:50 PM at Maracanã Stadium, in their debut match in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores da América. And not even the Chileans are confident in a good result from their team. In a poor run in the national championship, the team is looking to bounce back with a victory at Maracanã. However, the fans aren't very confident.

In a poll published on the UC's official website as of this afternoon, of the more than 6 votes asking for predictions about the match's outcome, 59% believe the team will lose at Maracanã. Only 4% believe in a draw, and 37% see a chance of victory. The team's star player, Damián Diaz, emphasized the importance of the match for Universidad Católica. He said it's a privilege to face Flamengo at Maracanã.

"Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to travel to play a Libertadores match against Flamengo," the midfielder told the Chilean press.

Last Saturday, Universidad lost 2-1 to league leaders Unión Española on the road, with a goal in the 44th minute. Previously, the team had lost 2-0 at home to seventh-place Cobresal and drawn 1-1 away to 17th-place San Luis. The last victory came on February 2nd, a 4-0 victory over Santiago Morning, currently 14th in the table. Coach Marco Antonio Figueroa took responsibility for the setbacks but expressed confidence in a comeback.

"I'm the only one responsible. No player did anything different from what I asked. Everyone is aware that we need to improve. We know the difficult moment we're going through, but that doesn't mean we'll lose our determination. We have a difficult trip to Brazil, against the best team in the country, but we have a group looking to recover," he told Católica's official website, which released several ways to encourage the team for the game against Flamengo, including a gallery of images with goal celebrations, "To give good vibes" to the team on the eve of this Libertadores match.

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"We could be pessimistic about the recent results, but no, now is the time to show true passion for the club and support the team so it can recover. On Wednesday, the team will face Flamengo and needs all the positive energy we can give them," reads a note on the Chilean club's website.