Bettors Favoring Flamengo Over River Plate in 2019 Copa Libertadores Final

• Flamengo climb to +114 favorites after opening as slim underdogs
• Flamengo ride a 25-match unbeaten streak into Saturday’s contest
• River Plate have claimed victory in just three of six outings, and are winless in four all-time meetings with Flamengo

After extending their current undefeated streak across all competitions to 25 matches with last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Gremio, CR Flamengo look towards Saturday’s clash with CA River Plate in the Copa Libertadores final as improved +114 favorites in the South American soccer futures at sportsbooks.

Flamengo vs River Plate Copa Libertadores Odds

Odds taken Nov. 20

Flamengo Climb to Favorites During Surge

Pegged as narrow +166 underdogs in the opening odds, the Scarlet-Black’s recent dominance has tilted the odds in their favor. With their win over Gremio in Serie A league action, the club now sports a 20-5-0 win-draw-loss record over their past 25 outings going into Saturday afternoon’s Flamengo vs River Plate matchup at Estadio Monumental in Lima, Peru.

Flamengo have regularly filled the net during their current unbeaten streak, averaging 2.28 goals per match over their past 25 outings, and potting three or more goals in four of their past eight matches

Flamengo have regularly filled the net during their current unbeaten streak, averaging 2.28 goals per match over their past 25 outings, and potting three or more goals in four of their past eight matches. The club has also played stingy defense of late, keeping clean sheets in 13 of their past 25 outings, but last week’s 4-4 draw with Vasco da Gama in league action marked the most goals that Flamengo have surrendered in a match since March 2018.

?⚫? The top-5 goals for #Flamengo this #Libertadores!

1⃣ @GiorgiandeA
2⃣ @Brunohenrique
3⃣ @gabigol
4⃣ #BrunoHenrique
5⃣ #Gabigol

? Which one do you think was best? pic.twitter.com/bcNWWUBBtd

— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@TheLibertadores) November 17, 2019

Striker Bruno Henrique has fueled the Flamengo offense of late, scoring six times in four-match appearances this month, and has also averaged a goal per match over the club’s past four Copa Libertadores contests.

Gabriel Barbosa continues to lead the club in goalscoring in league action, with 22 markers and has been a regular contributor in Copa Libertadores action, scoring five times over their past five contests, and nine total goals so far in this year’s tournament.

Flamengo vs River Plate Historical Head-to-Head Stats

River Plate Struggling with Inconsistency

River Plate opened as slim +156 favorites in the Copa Libertadores final odds after escaping with a narrow 2-1 aggregate win over Boca Juniors in the tournament semifinal. But with the club continuing to struggle with inconsistency, they now look towards Saturday as lengthy +246 underdogs.

Nella notte il River Plate ha battuto 2-0 l'Estudiantes del Caséros, guadagnandosi l'accesso alla finale di Copa Argentina. E, ancora una volta, a brillare è la stellina del vivaio millonario, Exequiel Palacios, uno di quelli che va portato in Europa il prima possibile. pic.twitter.com/eZ3UBoMfrJ

— Andrea Bracco (@Falso_Nueve_IT) November 15, 2019

The defending Copa Libertadores champions are coming off a 2-0 win over Estudiantes Caseros in Copa Argentina semifinal play this past weekend, which marks just their third victory in their past six outings across all competitions. And while River Plate enjoyed an impressive run of eight matches in September and October in which they kept clean sheets on seven occasions, they have now surrendered seven total goals over their past six contests.

Los Millonarios have also struggled when playing away from home, going 1-1-1 over their past three contests, while allowing five total goals.

Flamengo Hold Edge in Past Meetings

Past meetings with Flamengo have also proven to be high-scoring affairs. River Plate played their Brazilian rivals to a scoreless draw in their last meeting during the group stage of last year’s Copa Libertadores, marking their second straight draw. However, Flamengo holds the edge in four all-time head-to-head matchups thanks to a pair of decisive wins during the semifinal of the 1982 Copa Libertadores, in which they outscored River Plate by a 7-2 overall margin.

However, it is River Plate that will take the championship experience into Saturday’s contests. Los Millonarios have raised the trophy in two of the past four years, and have claimed victory in each of their past appearances in the final, while Flamengo makes their first appearance since their lone tournament win in 1981.

Picks: Flamengo to win (+114), Over 2.0 (-133)