On Sunday night, Flamengo hosts Vasco da Gama at the Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho in a big game at both ends of the Serie A table.
Flamengo form guideThe home team currently occupy third place in the Serie A table, but there is a host of teams breathing down their necks in the fight for automatic qualification for next season’s Copa Libertadores. In fact, Gremio, Palmeiras and Atletico PR are all just three points adrift of Tite’s team.
Flamengo have been in decent form of late in the Brazilian top-flight, as they are unbeaten in their previous four matches after a 2-0 win at Cruzeiro last time out. They have been strong at the back in recent league outings, conceding just once in their four-game unbeaten run.
They have been a tough team to beat on home soil in Serie A, losing just one of their previous ten league matches.
Vasco da Gama form guideThe visitors are only outside the relegation zone in Serie A courtesy of a superior goal difference to 17th-place Santos. Despite their relatively lowly position in the table, Ramon Diaz’s team has been in decent form of late in the Brazilian top-flight, winning four of their previous six matches while suffering just one defeat in the run.
Their recent improvement in results has been down to solid defensive displays, as they have now kept clean sheets in three of their last four games in the Brazilian top flight.
One of the factors in Vasco’s poor results of late has been their struggles away from home, as they have won just one of their last 12 away games in Serie A.
What am I backing?Both teams have been in decent form lately, but I believe home advantage for Flamengo may prove enough to ensure maximum points.