The Brazilian top flight action continues on Saturday and features this afternoon clash between high-flying hosts, Flamengo, and their bottom of the table visitors, America Mineiro, when the two teams face off at the Maracanã with a precious three points at stake for both sides.
Flamengo currently occupy second place in the Brazilian Serie A standings and although the hosts made a slow and disappointing start to this campaign, winning just once in their opening four league matches and being handed three defeats in the process, Flamengo have since embarked upon a solid sequence of results.
With just one further defeat in their last 11 matches overall which came in the form of a heavy 4-0 loss away from home at Bragantino, Flamengo have turned their season around by picking up seven wins during this improved period, four of which have been achieved on home soil at the Maracanã.
Victories over Goias, Corinthians, Gremio and Fortaleza have helped lift Saturday’s hosts up into the top four of the Serie A table and contention for a place in next season’s Copa Libertadores although only two points separate Flamengo from sixth-placed Palmeiras so the hosts know they can ill afford to slip up here.
America Mineiro sit bottom of the Serie A table and the visitors find themselves four points adrift of fifth from bottom outfit, Bahia, and safety ahead of this weekend’s action in the Brazilian top flight where they face a tough looking trip to face an in-form Flamengo unit.
It’s been a very disappointing season so far for America Mineiro who have managed to capture just two wins throughout this campaign to date, both of which were achieved on home soil at their Estádio Raimundo Sampaio with victories against Fortaleza and Corinthians but there’s been little else for the fans and players to celebrate otherwise.
Nine defeats within their 14 matches played to date underlines the problems that the visitors have had to endure this term, not least results away from home as the visitors are still without an away win so far this season having drawn two and lost five of their seven outings on the road in this campaign.
The bigger picture shows America Mineiro have managed to collect just five wins out of their previous 23 outings on their travels, while also losing 12 of these games as well.
Flamengo v America Mineiro Verdict
Flamengo have won five of their seven home games to date this season and the hosts look far better equipped to take the three points at the Maracanã than poor-travelling America Mineiro who have conceded two goals or more in each of their last eight away games in Serie A, with seven of these eight games also resulting in Over 2.5 goals as well.
Therefore, our main bet will be Over 2.5 goals @ 1.61
Other side bets worth considering:
Flamengo win & Over 2.5 goals @ 1.95
Correct score: Flamengo 3-0 @ 7.50
