A draw is enough for the red-black to confirm the classification for the round of 16
Flamengo and Universidad Católica will face each other later, at 21:30 (Brasília time), at Maracanã. Rubro-Negro is the leader of Group H, with 10 points, and needs only a draw to secure the classification for the round of 16. The Chilean team, on the other hand, needs to win anyway. Católica is third in the group with four points.
Despite having the classification practically assured, Flamengo’s environment is not the best. The bad results in the last games of the Brazilian Championship left the club and the coach Paulo Souza in a very complicated situation. Victory is essential to appease the spirits.
David Luiz is the right absence for later. Despite the scare with Rodrigo Caio in the match against Ceará for the Brasileirão, the defender has game conditions. In the goal, despite another mistake, Hugo is the one who starts. Diego Alves and Santos had no condition to be related. That said, the reserves for the position will be Matheus Cunha and Bruno.
The big news for Católica in the Chilean’s last round was the re-debut of Argentine coach Ariel Holan – he coached the club from 2020 to 2021 -, Flamengo’s tormentor for Independiente in the 2017 South American final. Holan led the Cruzados to a victory by 3-0 over La Calera, but this Monday he tested positive for Covid-19 and ended up cut from the trip.
With that, Rodrigo Valenzuela, who had already been on the bench in the Santiago game, once again directs the team to the edge of the field. Of the players, the most significant casualty is the striker Orellana.
Sporting Cristal and Talleres also play for Group H. The Peruvian team is bottom with just one point and has no more chances of advancing to the round of 16, but still dreams of the Copa Sud America. The Argentines, on the other hand, are in second place, with seven points, and it’s up to you to qualify.
(1.25) Flamengo x Catholic University (11.00); hunches and predictions
Both teams score (no): even though they conceded goals in 3 of the 4 games they played in the competition, Flamengo is widely favorite for the duel. Therefore, one of the main markets of the game is goals for only one of the teams.
More than 2.5 goals: Flamengo has an average of 2.5 goals scored per game in the tournament. In addition, the Chilean team’s need to win should give even more space to the red-black, which has great offensive power. So this might be another good guess in the gaming market.
More than 0.5 goals in the 2nd half: eight of the last 11 goals scored by Flamengo in the season came in the final half of the games. So another good guess is for at least 1 goal in the 2nd half of the match.
