Flamengo vs Sport Recife Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Sunday’s Brazilian Serie A action sees Flamengo doing battle with Sport Recife. The hosts arrive as huge favourites to pick up the three points and will be looking to do so in order to maintain their lead at the top of the table.

It’s been a fantastic campaign for Flamengo so far and currently they look on course to secure their first league title since 2009. There is a long way to go of course, but Maurício Barbieri has done a truly fantastic job since coming in and leads a side at the summit, after collecting an impressive 31 points from 15 matches.

Flamengo returned from the World Cup break with a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Sao Paulo but having since beaten Botafogo 2-0 and drawn 1-1 away to Santos in midweek, things look to be back on the right track. With 4 wins from their last 5 home matches, confidence is high going into the clash and supporters will be expectant of yet another solid showing.

Somewhere where confidence certainly isn’t high is in Sport Recife ranks, with the visitors in miserable form. Leão have been dreadful since Serie A action resumed, recording defeats at both Ceara and Vitoria, as well as losing at home to Fluminense, with said results playing their part in a poor streak that now reads 1 point from 5 matches.

This campaign is starting to mirror that of last year, in which the team made a good start to he season but then went on a horrendous run of form, almost being relegated in the process, and if performances don’t improve swiftly, the side could well be dragged into a relegation dogfight once again. That improvement is highly unlikely to come in this game however, with Sport having lost their last 3 away games and 5 of their 8 overall this season.

Ultimately, it’d be a huge surprise if Flamengo didn’t win the match and we can’t see them being troubled by an opponent in such poor shape. Sport have been losing to opponents of far less quality than Flamengo in recent weeks and this trip is the last thing they need right now.

Best value looks to be found in backing Flamengo to win the match to nil. They’ve won 4 of their last 5 home games without conceding and have also won 4 of their last 5 home games against Sport to nil. Sport have failed to score in all but one of their away defeats so far this term and having also failed to notch in 3 of their last 4 away games, we cannot envisage them getting on the scoresheet, with a 1-0 Flamengo win on the cards.