Flamengo secured top-spot and booked their place in the knockout round of the Copa Libertadores with a 1-0 Maracana victory over Estudiantes last week and the Scarlet and Black will complete the formalities of the final group-stage contest against Cusco.
The Golden Warriors have taken only one point from their five Copa Libertadores and there is no hope of progress to the knockout round play-offs of the Copa Sudamericana for the already-eliminated Cusco.
Flamengo v Cusco Tips Summary
Best Bet - Under 3.5 goals @ 4/5
Alternative Bet - Flamengo to win to nil @ 8/11
Bet Builder - Flamengo to win, under 3 goals, Jorge Carrascal to be shown a card @ 14/1
Flamengo v Cusco Prediction
Best Bet: Under 3.5 goals @ 4/5
Flamengo are 1/8 to beat Cusco in the final Copa Libertadores group-stage game and there should be few issues for the Scarlet and Black.
The super short price of Leonardo Jardim’s men has led to a big goal expectancy, but it could prove unwise to expect a high-scoring contest at the Maracana.
Cusco have scored only once in their two away matches in the Copa Libertadores this season and they put up expected goal figures of only 0.39 in a 1-0 loss at Independiente Medellin and it was only 0.7 in a 2-1 defeat at Estudiantes.
The Peruvian side hit only three shots on target in that pair of away matches in the CONMEBOL competition and a trip to Flamengo rates a far trickier tie for the already-eliminated Golden Warriors.
Miguel Rondelli’s men were beaten 2-0 by Flamengo in April’s return fixture at the Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and that was a contest which the Sao Paulo side dominated.
Cusco hit only two shots on target and created an XG of just 0.39 against the Scarlet and Black and it’s hard to see the Golden Warriors faring any better on the road.
It’s almost certainly going to be all down to Flamengo to get the goals, but the Scarlet and Black may not run riot.
Jardim may look to rotate his side, with top-spot assured and the likes of 34-year-old Jorginho and star man Lucas Paqueta could be given a break from action.
Flamengo were reduced to ten men early in the weekend’s 3-0 loss to Palmeiras and Jardim could well see this as a contest to freshen up his squad.
Either way, motivation is unlikely to peak for a Flamengo side already heading for the knockout phase and under 3.5 goals could prove a wise wager.
Alternative Bet: Flamengo to win to nil @ 8/11
A rotated Flamengo may not hit three or four goals past Cusco, but they should still be strong enough to keep out the Golden Warriors at the other end.
The Peruvian side have carried very little attacking threat in their two away Copa Libertadores matches and they have hit only three goals on that last five all-competition road trips.
Flamengo’s experienced defence has kept five clean sheets in their last 11 games and the Sao Paulo side are a class above Cusco.
Playing the Brazilians to win to nil at the Maracana could pay dividends.
Flamengo v Cusco Bet Builder Tip
Flamengo to win
Under 3 goals
Jorge Carrascal to be shown a card
Pays @ 14/1
Flamengo have little riding on this contest, but that same can be said for Cusco and the Sao Paulo side should still be far too strong for the Golden Warriors.
There is the potential for the Scarlet and Black to rotate their side in this spot, but they have conceded only two goals in five Copa Libertadores matches and Cusco have created expected goal numbers of just 4.7 across their five games in this season’s competition. Under 2.5 looks a juicy price.
Jorge Carrascal was sent off for a reckless challenge and dangerously high challenge against Palmeiras at the weekend, which made it two red cards and two yellows in his last eight appearances for Flamengo. The Colombian could be in trouble again.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Flamengo have conceded only two goals in five Copa Libertadores matches this season
Cusco have scored only three goals in their last five away games
Cusco created an expected goals figure of just 0.39 in the reverse fixture in Peru
Cusco have created expected goal numbers of just 4.7 across their five games in this season’s Copa Libertadores
Only one of Flamengo’s last five games have gone over 2.5 goals
Five of Flamengo’s previous six victories have come without conceding
Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
