Independiente Santa Fe vs Flamengo Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Thursday’s Copa Libertadores action sees Brazilians Flamengo make the daunting trip to face off with Colombians Santa Fe. With the match being played at gruelling altitude, the hosts arrive as big favourites.

Santa Fe arrive desperate for the three points, having thus far drawn all three of their group games. Whilst points at both River and Flamengo themselves have to be considered excellent results, failure to see off Emelec on home territory was a disappointment and there is no more room for slip ups on home soil.

Nonetheless, Emelec are accustomed to playing at high altitude, something which the other two sides in the group certainly are not. Santa Fe’s Estadio El Campin home is located some 2,600 metres above sea level which gives them a huge advantage, something well evidenced by the fact that Los Cardinales are unbeaten in 13 home Libertadores outings, winning 7.

That’s got to be a big concern for a Flamengo side that has lost 8 of their last 11 away games in the competition. Last season Mengão were simply dreadful on all fronts away from home but in the Libertadores this season, it’s been the other way around, with two disappointing draws recorded on home territory but a win secured away at Emelec, putting the visitors top of the group on goals scored.

As fans of Brazilian football have become accustomed to, Flamengo are in something of a crisis. The club have been without a permanent manager for a number of weeks now and whilst they are currently unbeaten in 3 under caretaker boss Maurício Barbieri, two of those matches have been poor draws whilst the other was a 2-0 win over newly promoted America Mineiro, with a performance that still attracted widespread criticism.

Santa Fe also find themselves without a permanent manager in place after some inconsistent domestic showings, but still come into this fixture as big favourites nonetheless. One cannot underestimate the significance of the high altitude present, which makes it so difficult for visiting sides to compete.

Having already taken a point from Flamengo on level territory last week, the hosts should be able to claim a vital three points with conditions and the crowd on their side. Flamengo’s terrible away record in the competition speaks for itself and it’s hard to envisage that changing here, making backing a Santa Fe win the way to play, with a 1-0 margin of victory on the cards.