Ituano vs Maranhão - Serie C

All eyes turn to the home ground on June 28, 2026 as Ituano welcome Maranhão in a Serie C encounter that promises tension, intrigue and no shortage of subplot. Manchester City face the K-League All-Stars in Seoul on Wednesday as part of their pre-season tour of Asia.

A glance at the Serie C table tells the story: Ituano in 15th and Maranhão in 12th, with positions to defend and places to climb. The hosts have struggled for consistency, LLLWL in their last five pointing to a win rate of 31.58%. Maranhão have struggled to string results together away from home, LWWWD over their last five with a win rate of 36.84%. Their respective approaches this season have differed noticeably, and the tactical contrast could prove telling. Michael Carrick has spoken on why Marcus Rashford did not feature for Manchester United in the club's most recent pre-season outing.

How the two sides approach the contest strategically will be key. Ituano will want to control proceedings in front of their own supporters, while Maranhão will back themselves to cause problems on the break. Andoni Iraola could not have been clearer about how he plans to change Liverpool when speaking in his opening press conference.

The fixture features no shortage of talent, and the league's top marksman N. Schiappacasse — 3 goals this term — will be one to watch. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. City are seeking upwards of £60m for the 30-year-old midfielder, who has entered the final year of his deal.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. On balance, Maranhão may just have enough to take all three points. A 1-2 away win would not be a shock. Whatever the outcome, the Serie C fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. Harry Kane is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.