As if last game week’s headliner was not action enough, the Brazilian Serie A has another ‘box-office’ fixture. We get to witness another instalment of an age-old rivalry between Corinthians and Santos, more commonly referred to as “Classico Alvi-Negro.”
Check out all that and more, alongside a 39/10 treble sure to hit.
Saturday 25 June
11/20 Internacional | Draw 49/20 | Coritiba 48/10 (02:30)
Internacional took on Botafogo last time out, losing the match 3-2. The game ended nine a side with the earliest red card for Botafogo in the seventh minute after a VAR review, and a 107th minute brawl ended the contest. Right-back Gabriel Mercado and winger David will both miss the matchup against Coritiba after seeing red. Coritiba may have lost three consecutive Serie A fixtures with two successive draws prior, but they will draw confidence from their 1-0 victory over Botafogo being their last win. All things considered, back the home side in all multiples.
29/20 Athletico PR | Draw 17/10 | Bragantino 2/1 (21:30)
If I could label Athletico Paranaense’s last three fixtures, it would be ‘slim margins.’ Just three goals in their last three games, against varied level of competition. The latest result being a 1-0 win over Coritiba which was a steal as the 90th minute penalty could be questioned. Bragantino, on the other hand, have had their last three fixtures ladened with goals (12). Head-to-head – these sides have faced five times in the last two years with Athletico PR being the victor in three and the remaining two results ending with a share of the spoils. Back the home side to get the job done.
Sunday 26 June
9/20 Flamengo | Draw 28/10 | America MG 54/10 (00:00)
I have looked under every stone, and I do not get the odds on this fixture. Flamengo sit 14th on 15 points, having scored two more goals (13) than America Mineiro, and conceding (15) just one less. The home side have one win in their last five with four losses, while America MG have one win, three losses and a 0-0 draw against Fluminense. The only argument to be made is head-to-head results where the away team has not beaten Flamengo since the year 2000. No multiples, but the outside bet on America MG at 54/10 is worth a punt.
1/1 Corinthians | Draw 18/10 | Santos 29/10 (00:00)
As if last game week’s headliner was not action enough, the Brazilian Serie A has another ‘box-office’ fixture. We get to witness another instalment of an age-old rivalry between Corinthians and Santos, more commonly referred to as “Classico Alvi-Negro.”
Corinthians have had a pacey start to this season’s proceedings as they currently positioned in the top two on the table. Seven wins, four draws, and two narrow defeats leaves Timão on 25 points. The recent 1-0 loss to Cuiaba saw all the lame fall on the shoulders of head coach Vítor Pereira’s squad rotation, and the 3-0 loss to Palmeiras during the opening fixtures of the season was all down to the opposition being that much more formidable in front of goal this season.
Santos have only themselves to blame for the eighth position they currently occupy. The defensive work has been one to rave over with a midfield three of Du Queiroz, Renato Augusto and Giuliano, whereas the final third leaves a lot to be desired as former Chelsea and Arsenal winger Willian has netted once in 28 appearances. Six draws with four of them being under 2.5 goals and of their 13 fixtures this season, six has been under that same threshold.
Santos’ last season finishing above bitter rivals Corinthians was back in 2019. Another win over Corinthians this year after Marcos Leonardo netted a brace to give them a 2-1 victory in February should spur them on. The confidence will be riding higher as that victory came in the Neo Quimica Arena, Sao Paulo. The form of Corinthians have improved drastically, as has Santos, but the draw seems the likeliest of outcomes here.
11/20 Atletico MG | Draw 51/20 | Fortaleza 46/10 (02:00)
Atletico and Fortaleza finally picked up victories after four and three winless streaks in the Serie A respectively. Atletico overcame Flamengo quite comfortably with a goal in either half, and Fortaleza scraped by with one goal over America Mineiro courtesy of Yago Lisboa’s fourth goal of the campaign. The defending Brazilian champions have a much more stacked schedule than their opponents, but even with squad rotations a win for the home team is on the cards.
15/10 Botafogo | Draw 18/10 | Fluminense 37/20 (21:00)
Botafogo picked up an emphatic 3-2 victory on enemy territory last time out. They did not come out of their war without a few casualties as key centre-back Philipe Sampaio and attacking midfielder Lucas Piazon both received marching orders. It’s now back-to-back wins for Botafogo after five winless fixtures. Fluminense have kept successive clean sheets, drawing 0-0 with America Mineiro and comfortably winning 2-0 over Avai last time out. German Cano has scored nine goals in 10 fixtures across all competitions, and you can expect him to keep up the attacking threat for Fluminense. The away team on Draw No Bet at 19/20 will keep the slip alive while not skimping on value.
39/10 Avai | Draw 23/10 | Palmeiras 13/20 (21:00)
Palmeiras picked up a glorious 2-1 victory over Sao Paulo in enemy territory last Tuesday, whereas Avai faced defeat for a sixth time this season. Palmeiras leads the Brazilian Serie A standings by three points, and have netted the most goals (25), seven more than the next best, as well as conceded the least (8), showing that the cohesion throughout the squad is orchestrated well by Abel Ferreira. Back the away team to record their fifth straight victory.
1/1 Ceara | Draw 39/20 | Atletico GO 26/10 (23:00)
Ceara has been far better on the road, but are currently winless at home this season. They opened their campaign in front of fans with back-to-back defeats and gave them nothing more to celebrate with three successive draws, keeping their first clean sheet last time out against Atletico MG. Atletico GO’s last away fixture was a 4-2 defeat to Palmeiras, so they should be able to shrug that one off. Three wins surrounding that defeat shows promise in the away team camp as 13th and 12th respectively challenge one another. I am backing the away team to pick up three points.
6/10 Sao Paulo | Draw 43/20 | Juventude 5/1 (23:00)
Sao Paulo will pick up the pieces after a disappointing 2-1 loss to Palmeiras last time out. Two stoppage time goals from the opposition is nothing but sloppy. It’s hard to bounce back after such a defeat, but if any manager knows how to motivate, it’s Rogerio Ceni. Juventude are nowhere near as competitive enough to grind a result here, and I am backing the home side to rebound quite nicely.
11/10 Goias | Draw 7/4 | Cuiaba 26/10 (23:00)
Both Goias and Cuiaba have a similar run of form – one win, two draws and two losses in their last five. More worryingly in the home sides camp is two consecutive defeats, but just as disturbing, Cuiaba have failed to find the back of the net in just as many fixtures. Goias sits 17th on 14 points, while Cuiba trails ever so closely in 18th on 14 points, and this battle will prove vital at the tale end of the season. The draw is the likeliest of outcomes.
TREBLE @ 3/1
Internacional Win 11/20
Atletico MG Win 11/20
Palmeiras 13/20
