The pair are also currently the top two teams in Brazil's Serie A, with Flamengo ahead by five points with just two matches left to play.
Who will be the first Brazilian side to win four Copa Libertadores titles?
To say this is the biggest match of the season for both clubs is to state the blindingly obvious, and there could well be a knock-on effect for whoever loses such an important game.
That's because the victor will become the first Brazilian side to win the Libertadores on four occasions, adding even more drama to a showpiece event that will bring the country to a standstill.
In terms of form, Palmeiras are unbeaten in six Libertadores matches at home this season, with five wins and one draw, and they're also unbeaten at home in 14 games in all competitions.
Their two-legged semi-final victory over LDU Quito saw them overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit and emerge victorious after a 4-0 second-leg win.
Flamengo's semi-final was much tighter, with them beating Racing Club 1-0 in the first leg and drawing 0-0 in the second in order to progress.
They also haven't lost in six away matches in the competition this season, with three wins and three draws on the road, and have got the better of o Verdao of late, being unbeaten in their last three match-ups.
Flamengo hold recent advantage
In fact, Palmeiras have won just one of the last six games between the sides; a 1-0 victory in August 2024.
Two have been draws (0-0 and 1-1), Flamengo have won two by a scoreline of 2-0, and the previous meeting at Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho (Maracana) in October also saw the Rubro-Negros emerge triumphant with a 3-2 victory.
Their last 23 meetings have produced ten wins for Flamengo, seven for Palmeiras and six draws.
Goals certainly haven't been a problem for o Verdao in the competition either, given that they've managed 14 in the last six games, conceding just four. By contrast, o Fla have scored just six and conceded three.
Back to Lima and memories of Gabigol
Of course, often when finals are played, form is set aside as the teams competing for the title will stop at nothing to ensure that the trophy goes home with them.
Back in 2021, the last time these two Brazilian giants were in the final of the competition, it was Palmeiras that took the title with a 2-1 win. It came the year after they'd beaten Santos 1-0 in the 2020 final, meaning 2025 could see them completing a recent Libertadores hat-trick.
Saturday's showpiece will actually be Flamengo's fourth final since it became a single-format showpiece in 2019, and they have also won two finals in that time (2-1 against River Plate in 2019 - at this season's venue, the Estadio Monumental in Lima - and 1-0 in 2022 against Athletico Paranaense).
The 2019 final was most memorable of course, for Gabigol's two goals in the 89th and 92nd minutes to turn around a first-half deficit.
Lopez and de Arrascaeta could decide the outcome
Flamengo remain the team with the most passes attempted in this season's competition (6,404) and the most clean sheets (eight), so the expectation will be that Filipe Luis' team will be doing their utmost to ensure they keep the ball as much as possible.
In so doing, they will restrict Palmeiras' shots at goal, which is more important than usual given that o Verdao top the charts for goals in the competition (30), total shots taken (195) and shots on target (81). They're also second for shot conversion (20%).
Both sides also have one player who could define the outcome of the match.
Palmeiras' Jose Manuel Lopez has seven goals, 34 total shots taken and 14 shots on target, whilst Flamengo's Giorgian de Arrascaeta has two goals, 22 total shots taken and 11 shots on target; both are best-in-class for their team.
For o Fla, the opening quarter of an hour is important as that's when they've scored the most goals (four), whilst o Verdao are at their most lethal in the 15 minutes before half-time (nine goals); a period when Flamengo are at their weakest in terms of goals against (two).
Should Palmeiras score first in the final, it might well be all over from that point, as in nine games in the competition when they've taken the lead, they've always won. Conversely, Flamengo have always lost when conceding the first goal.
Pedro and Leo Ortiz miss out for Flamengo, and the game also comes too early for Palmeiras' Paulinho, Lucas Evangelista and Figueiredo.
The winners will face CONCACAF champions Cruz Azul in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and will also automatically qualify for the next Club World Cup, which is due to be held in 2029.
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