Flamengo vs San Jose Predictions

Friday’s Copa Libertadores group stage action sees Flamengo doing battle with Bolivians San Jose. The hosts arrive as huge favourites to win the match and are expected to do so with ease.

As one of the biggest names on the continent, Flamengo came into the Libertadores with hopes of a sustained run within it, but for now, focus can only be on making it out of the group. Indeed, Mengao started in excellent fashion via wins at San Jose themselves and at home to LDU Quito, but a home defeat to Penarol last week has somewhat complicated their position and leaves them needing a win in Friday’s game to get things back on the right track.

Nonetheless, Flamengo have been looking quite a powerful force in 2019 and confidence will certainly be high in getting the job done. Indeed, the side have won 11 of their 18 competitive outings so far this year, whilst scoring an average of 1.83 goals a game, so it’s clear to see they’re a pretty well functioning unit that has plenty of goals in them.

Meanwhile, San Jose came into the group as expected whipping boys and have hardly done anything to defy said expectations, having taken just 1 point from their first 3 matches. The Bolivians have at least been competitive on home soil where they hold a huge altitude advantage but now back on the road, they’ll certainly be apprehensive coming into Friday’s game.

The visitors only lost their home game with Flamengo 1-0 and their point came last week as they held LDU Quito on home soil. However, away from home they were crushed 4-0 by Penarol and said result extends a simply awful travelling record in the Libertadores that now reads 8 consecutive defeats, with just 1 goal scored and a huge average of 3.62 goals conceded.

Ultimately, this game looks set to be a complete mismatch and you really do have to fear for San Jose coming into it. Flamengo are fully motivated and could do with all 3 points and having already beaten the visitors away at gruelling altitude, they should be able to defeat them with greater ease on their own patch.

All things considered, we really like the look of backing the hosts on the -2 handicap and that’s exactly where our money is going at current prices. San Jose do not have the quality to compete with South America’s best when you take their altitude advantage away and with Flamengo in decent attacking shape, a 4-0 home win could well be on the cards.