Parana vs Flamengo Predictions

Sunday’s Brazilian Serie A clash sees a doomed Parana doing battle with in-form Flamengo. The visitors will be looking for all 3 points in order to keep their title dreams alive.

Against Parana, they shouldn’t face too many issues as regards doing that, with the hosts in terrible shape. Tricolor da Vila came into the season as big favourites to return to the second tier and have certainly proved why, currently on course to be one of the worst side in Serie A history, currently only on 17 points from 29 matches.

New boss Dado Cavalcanti faces a mammoth task to race spirits in a group that has now not won in 15 attempts, losing 11 times in the process and the games between now and the end of the season can only really be used as preparation for Serie B football next season, with the hosts all but down given they are 15 points adrift of safety with just 9 matches left to play.

Meanwhile, after bringing in Jair Ventura as boss, Flamengo’s once fading title bid is starting to pick up pace and the visitors arrive having won their last 2 matches 3-0, up against Corinthians and rivals Fluminense respectively, moving the side 4 points shy of leaders Palmeiras.

Mengao had been the standout team in the opening half of the campaign but things had really started to drop off in recent months, prompting the change in the dugout. However, now in much improved shape, spirits are running high in visiting ranks and having kept a clean sheet in 3 consecutive matches and boasting the league’s fourth best defence, confidence will be high in securing a result on Sunday.

Ultimately, you’d back just about anyone in the division to beat Parana in their current, sorry state and that’s certainly the case with a strong, resurgent Flamengo outfit in town. Man for man the visitors are by far the stronger of the two, something reflected in the huge 38 point gap between the two in the standings.

It’s almost impossible to envisage Parana avoiding defeat here and all things considered, backing a Flamengo win to nil looks an excellent way to play. Flamengo haven’t conceded a goal since Ventura came in and with Parana having lost 11 of their last 15 matches without scoring, it’s hard to see the visitors being troubled and we think they’ll run out comfortable 2-0 winners.