Palmeiras vs Athletico Paranaese Predictions

Saturday’s Brazilian Serie A action sees champions Palmeiras doing battle with Athletico PR at the Allianz Parque. The hosts are expected to pick up all 3 points with relatively few issues.

Even at this early point of the season, it’s clear to see it’s going to take some stopping Palmeiras from retaining their title. Despite having played a game less than most of the league, Verdao are top of the pile once again and have already collected an impressive total of 16 points from just 6 matches.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men are a powerful unit that have supreme quality all over the pitch and that has them going into every game with confidence high. Across this season and last, they are now a staggering 30 matches unbeaten in Serie A and having not even conceded a single goal in their last 10 home matches, of which they’ve won 9, their prospects certainly look bright coming into Saturday’s game.

Meanwhile, Athletico PR have made a solid, if unspectacular to the Serie A season, with 10 points from 7 games putting them in a mid table position. Furacao have had to rotate their team very often amidst continental and cup football and that explains the inconsistency in the results they’ve recorded.

Nonetheless, one thing is clear and that’s that the team are far stronger at home than they are away and that’s a big concern coming into this trip. Indeed, Athletico have not won any of their last 9 away games and having lost 7 of said trips, confidence isn’t particularly high coming into Saturday’s game.

Ultimately, it’s very likely to be business as usual for Palmeiras and they’ll be assured of their ability to get the job done. They’re in outstanding form and are stronger than Athletico in all areas of the pitch. The visitors aren’t a bad team but going blow for blow with Palmeiras is always a big ask and Athletico just don’t look capable of doing so on the road.

All things considered, backing a Palmeiras win to nil looks the best way to play as far as the betting is concerned and is exactly where our money is going. They are simply impenetrable on home soil and having won 9 of their last 11 matches to nil, they should be able to keep a clean sheet here, with a 2-0 margin of home victory looking on the cards.