Chris Boline
Corinthians are the underdogs ahead of the first leg of the Brazilian Cup final but they look underrated and can match Flamengo.
Who do Bettors Favor?
Checking out the best-rated online sportsbooks it’s clear that bettors favor Flamengo in the first leg of the final, despite Corinthians having home advantage. Flamengo are the +130 favorites to take the lead in the tie, with Corinthians rated between +210 and +222 and the draw between +200 and +200.
| Copa do Brasil |  |  |
| Flamengo | +128 | +130 |
| Draw | +220 | +200 |
| Corinthians | +222 | +210 |
Betting on the Brazilian Cup
The Copa do Brasil is the biggest cup competition in Brazil, and like other famous tournaments such as the FA Cup and Copa del Rey, provides the opportunity for smaller teams from lower-profile states to take on the very best and add their name to the list of winners.
Founded in 1989, the tournament has expanded from an initial 32 teams to its current 92-team structure, with teams from all 26 states and the Federal District. Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais are the most successful states in the tournament, with 18 winners between them, including Cruzeiro, who have won it six times and four-time winners Palmeiras. Gremio are the second most successful team in the Brazilian Cup, with five wins and Flamengo and Corinthians have won it three times apiece.
Flamengo Favorites for Cup Glory
Flamengo go into this game as the big favorites to win the Cup having not appeared in the final since 2017, and with a Copa Libertadores final to look forward to, Flamengo fans have been pleasantly surprised by the turnaround since Dorival Junior took over from Paulo Sousa as head coach in June. It is unlikely that the team will finish in the top two of Serie A for a fifth-year running, but they have every chance of finishing the campaign with a Cup double.
Dorival Junior’s side have only lost two of their last 15 in the league and are only two points behind third-placed Corinthians, although the 14-point gap behind Serie A leaders Palmeiras looks too big to close.
Corinthians Out for Revenge
For the second season in a row, Corinthians have changed their head coach mid-campaign. In this case, Vitor Pereira got the job in February, but it has taken a while for the much-traveled Portuguese manager to get to grips with this squad in his first coaching job in Brazil.
The problems reached a climax in August, when Corinthians won just one league game and were dumped out of the Copa Libertadores by Flamengo without scoring a goal. Since then, things have improved, with one defeat in eight and Pereira will be hoping his team can exact some revenge for their continental defeat by claiming this trophy for the fourth time.
Copa do Brasil Head-to-Head
These two long-established clubs have met many times over the years, but in recent encounters, Flamengo have had the better of the head-to-head record.
Flamengo have won 20 of their last 42 games, with 8 draws and 14 wins for Corinthians, but have been particularly dominant recently. Of their last 12 games, Flamengo have won ten, including both legs of their Copa Libertadores quarter-final in August. Corinthians did win their previous match against Flamengo in Serie A, back in July, however, and were the winners last time they met in the Copa do Brasil, in 2018.
Copa do Brasil Betting Team News
The team news for Corinthians ahead of the first leg of the Cup final is encouraging. Their only significant absentee is Paulinho, who is expected to be out with a knee ligament injury until January. Coach Vitor Peirera has done a good job of rotating the squad through their recent Serie A fixtures, and has a relatively fresh squad to pick from, though Roger Guedes is one yellow card from suspension.
Flamengo are without a couple of key players for the first leg. Rodrigo Caio is a long-term absentee, while Bruno Henrique, who suffered a knee injury in June, is still on the injured list with no date given for his return. David Luiz and Marinho are in danger of picking up a suspension if they are booked in this game.
Top Betting Picks for the Brazilian Cup
Flamengo dominated the last meeting between these two old rivals in the Copa Libertadores, and are obviously favorites, but there is reason to think that Corinthians will prove to be tougher opponents here.
In terms of league position and form, there is very little to choose between the two teams, and that two-legged continental tie back in August will have taught Peirera a great deal about how his new team deals with the challenges of a high-profile two-legged fixture.
Corinthians are lot more polished now than they were in the summer, and they are starting to show steady improvement, while their injury list has been reduced. Home advantage counts for plenty in soccer, so at these odds I think Corinthians are underrated. Back them to earn a draw in what should be a cautious but fascinating first leg of the Brazilian Cup at the Neo Qiumica Arena.
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