Flamengo vs Penarol Predictions

Thursday’s Copa Libertadores group stage action sees Brazilians Flamengo doing battle with Penarol. The hosts arrive as big favourites to win the match and are expected to claim maximum points with very few issues.

Hosts Flamengo came into the Libertadores this year with the expectation of making a sustained run in it and the side have certainly got off to a perfect start, winning both of their opening games against San Jose and LDU Quito respectively. As such, they come into this game knowing that a win would have them all but put them into the last 16 and arrive desperate to get it.

Flamengo have looked a powerful force in the action we’ve seen so far in 2019 and certainly look set for a strong year across all fronts. They have quality all over the pitch and that has them looking a real force, coming into this game having not lost any of their last 10 games, of which they’ve won 7.

Meanwhile, Penarol have really struggled in the Libertadores in recent years, crashing out at the group stage in each of the last 3 editions. They’ve made a mixed start this year, first losing 2-0 at LDU Quito but then beating San Jose 4-0 on home soil, meaning if they can take any kind of result from Thursday’s game, they’ll be in a relatively strong position.

Nonetheless, it’s not hard to see where the Uruguayans have struggled in the competition and that leaves confidence low coming into this game. Indeed, they have a terrible away record in the Libertadores have now lost 7 away games in a row in it after their aforementioned defeat in Ecuador this year.

Ultimately, it’s not hard to see who the favourites are here and this is a game Flamengo will be fully expecting to win. Man for man, they’re by far a stronger team than the visitors and on home soil, they’ll be keen to make that translate onto what we see on the pitch.

All things considered, we’re more than happy to back Flamengo on the -1 handicap and feel they’ll win the match with ease. They’re in great form and are typically very strong on home soil in the Libertadores, having plunged home an average of 2.12 goals a game during their last 8 home games within it. Penarol simply don’t look like having the quality to trouble the hosts overall and we can envisage them falling to a 2-0 defeat.