Palmeiras vs Parana Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Sunday’s Brazilian Serie A action features a clash between Palmeiras and Parana. It’s expected to be a comfortable afternoon for the hosts against the struggling visitors.

Palmeiras’ season hasn’t really gone to plan so far but this match certainly feels like a fresh start, with popular manager Luis Felipe Scolari returning for a third stint at the club, after Roger Machado was given his marching orders following Verdao’s 1-0 loss to Fluminense in midweek.

Whilst some critics in the Brazilian media have labelled Machado’s sacking harsh, Palmeiras find themselves down in 7th place, some 8 points behind leaders Flamengo and possessing one of Serie A’s strongest squads on paper, that standing simply isn’t acceptable. Having won just 1 of the last 5 matches, the home crowd will be expecting an improved performance in this clash and with Parana in town, it shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for the players to provide it.

The visitors are struggling and look set to be involved in a fight to avoid an immediate return to Serie B for the remainder of the campaign. Rogério Micale’s troops put in a poor showing in a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Mineiro in mid-week and said result leaves them standing third bottom, 3 points adrift of safety.

Another road game is really the last thing Tricolor da Vila need right now and their prospects ahead of the trip do not look bright. The side have been strong on home soil in recent matches, unbeaten in 5 outings but have a horrendous away record, having taken just 1 point on the road all season and also having lost each of their last 5 Serie A away games, scoring just a single goal in the process.

Ultimately, this fixture looks the perfect chance for Palmeiras to get the new Scolari reign off to a perfect start and Parana are expected to cause them very little issues. Man for man, the hosts are by far the better side here and it’d be a huge surprise if they dropped points to an opponent looking so weak on their travels.

Backing Palmeiras on the -1 handicap looks the way to play and we’re more than happy to do so at generous odds. For all their struggles recently, Palmeiras have still plunged home an average of 2.28 goals a game over their last 7 home matches and they should be able to notch a couple on Sunday, with a 2-0 margin of victory looking on the cards, a scoreline well worth backing in addition to our main tip