We’re aiming higher this matchday 13 in the Brazilian Serie A, as our gameweek 11 picks were 50% correct. While we hope for the odds to be in our favour, there is a must-see spectacle in Brazil. Sao Paulo welcome log leaders Palmeiras to the Estádio do Morumbi, in possibly a key fixture for this season’s Championship winners.
Check out the feature fixture write-up and more.
Saturday 18 June
Atletico GO 9/10
Draw 37/20
Juventude 32/10
(21:30)
After returning to Atletico GO this January from his loan move to Japan, 29-year-old winger Wellington Rato has made 11 Serie A appearances, scoring three goals and is undoubtedly the go-to man in the final third. Juventude hit the road for this early kick off, and neither home nor away has played in their favour seeing them occupy the bottom of the table. Why I mentioned an in-form attacking threat from Atletico, is the fact that Juventude have conceded the most goals of any side this campaign. Atletico GO is panning out to be the banker of the weekend.
Sunday 19 June
Cuiaba 16/10
Draw 7/4
Ceara 17/10
(00:00)
Cuiba’s Venue Arena Pantana has been a fortress of sorts facing defeat just twice in their six home fixtures despite their bottom of the table standings. Their opponents, Ceara, are within touching distance as we creep ever so closer to the halfway mark. The away team’s travelling results are far better than their home form, but the draws are too many to ignore. Back the stalemate here at 7/4.
Santos 12/10
Draw 39/20
Bragantino 9/4
(02:00)
Santos are set to face Bragantino at the renowned Venue Estádio Urbano Caldeira. Santos have failed to win in their last three Serie A fixtures at home and similarly, Bragantino have had the same run in away from the comforts of their home. Both sides have drawn two and faltered on one with all six fixtures under 2.5 goals, back the draw and additional totals under 2.5 to continue the trend at 26/10.
Coritiba 13/10
Draw 18/10
Atletico PR 21/20
(21:00)
Atletico PR found their first away win, edging Cuiaba by a late goal a few days ago and found their second in successive fashion, defeating Juventude 3-1 thanks to an immaculate second half. Their latest road trip resulted in a goalless hard fought draw with Forteleza when head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari saw the opportunity for a much-needed squad rotation. Coritiba has had a stunning start to the season but facing Sao Paulo and Palmeiras in consecutive fixtures was always going to be a tough ask. Back the stalemate here.
Atletico MG 11/10
Draw 2/1
Flamengo 23/10
(21:00)
I am expecting a closed-out show from defending champions Atletico MG when they lock horns with Flamengo. There are big names on the world stage from either side, but the experience is rubbing off more so for one team than the other. The home side boast the likes of Hulk as well as Eduardo Vargas in the final third, while despite the acquisitions of David Luiz from Arsenal, Thiago Maia from Lille and Andreas Pereira from Manchester United, their kick off to this campaign has been nowhere near the quality expected from the eight-time Brazilian Serie A champions. Atletico MG is the one to get behind based on current home results, but more so the oppositions lack of cohesion.
Corinthians 11/20
Draw 23/10
Goias 5/1
(21:00)
Corinthians are flying high at the moment alongside Palmeiras atop the Brazilian Serie A. This encounter is as straightforward as they come in matchweek 13 with Corinthians yet to lose a home fixture this campaign. Goias are leaps and bounds below their current opposition and backing Corinthians to seal the deal here is not hard at all.
Internacional 15/20
Draw 2/1
Botafogo 37/10
(23:00)
Botafogo has netted just three goals in their last five away trips this campaign and facing Internacional who boast the third-best defence of the league, we can all see the direction of this fixture. Back-to-back away defeats for Botafogo and undefeated on home soil for Internacional shouts ‘the proof is in the pudding’, so punters, eat your hearts content when backing the home side.
Forteleza 1/1
Draw37/20
America MG 26/10
(23:00)
America Mineiro work well in set pieces, and with the waves of pressure Forteleza will have to endure this weekend, the home side are bound to slip up on more than one occasion. Centre-back Iago Maidina has netted four goals across all competitions, and you can expect him to be a target man on any dead ball situation. Forteleza’s home form is evident of their points tally thus far, but more worryingly for head coach Vagner Mancini is the lack of goals with just three goals in seven home fixtures. Back America Mineiro to get the job done by slim margins.
Monday 20 June
Fluminense 11/20
Draw 24/10
Avai 48/10
(00:00)
Kevin dos Santos Silva’s first goal for Avai over his former employers Botafogo was enough to earn their first away win of the season. Fluminense have had a topsy-turvy beginning to their campaign, recording three losses, two wins and one draw on home soil. Neither of those six results have seen back-to-back wins or losses for that matter and inconsistency is prevalent. I can’t really jump on either sides’ form, but head-to-head, Avai have won two and drawn two in the last five. Back the away side on the Win/Draw Double Chance.
Tuesday 21 June
Sao Paulo 37/20
Draw 37/20
Palmeiras 29/20
(01:00)
The highlight fixture of the gameweek and possibly a key fixture in the run for this season’s Championship winners, Sao Paulo welcome log leaders Palmeiras to Estádio do Morumbi.
Sao Paulo’s form at home is one worth backing. Four wins and one shocking 2-2 draw to midtable Ceara is representative of the standard the club holds their home record to. While the recent news of losing a bright young talent like 19-year-old Marquinhos to Premier League club Arsenal, the club has reliable forwards by the boatload. Non-more so than Jonathan Calleri who has netted 17 goals in his last 30 appearances.
Palmeiras lost their opening day fixture 3-2 to Ceara, but have since become unstoppable, sitting at the summit of the Brazilian Serie A. Their away record should instil caution in any side, winning their last three games to nil, scoring seven and conceding just one, and remaining undefeated across all five to date. Their recent loss to Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup was one to hold their heads high over and if they have improved since then, Sao Paulo have a heavy task on their hands.
The two sides have faced off once already this season with a further four scheduled fixtures across all competitions – Palmeiras being 4-0 the victors. I am strongly inclined to advice a tighter affair, but the away sides dominance in recent times will spill over seeing them take away three crucial points.
QUAD @ 17/1
Atletico GO Win 9/10
Santos/Bragntino Draw + U. 2.5 Totals 26/10
Corinthians Win 11/20
Internacional Win 15/20
Written by Joshua Gaillard