After Quarterfinals, Flamengo Now 2-1 Favorites to Win 2019 Copa Libertadores

• After eking out a close quarterfinal victory over Internacional, Flamengo have emerged as narrow +200 favorites on the Copa Libertadores championship odds
• Flamengo’s semifinal matchup pits them against Grêmio, who advance to the final four pegged as +350 longshots
• This year’s other semifinal features a rematch of last year’s Copa Libertadores final as defending champions River Plate take on Boca Juniors

Flamengo have endured a rocky road at times during this year’s Copa Libertadores, but after dispatching Serie A rivals Internacional by a 3-1 aggregate score in quarterfinal action, the club moves on to the semifinal perched as a narrow +200 favorite on the Copa Libertadores championship odds.

Odds to Win 2019 Copa Libertadores

*Odds taken 9/3/19

Flamengo Advancing by the Narrowest of Margins

The Rubro-Negro avoided relegation to this season’s Copa Sudamericana during the group stage. The club compiled a middling 3-1-2 win-draw-loss record, but eked out a first-place finish on the Group D table on the strength of goal differential, breaking a three-way tie with LDU Quito and Peñarol.

Flamengo followed up with yet another narrow victory in the round of 16, getting past Emelec on penalties after their two-match clash ended in a 2-2 aggregate draw. However, Flamengo’s quarterfinal success has coincided with a recent stretch of strong play that has also lifted the club to the top of the Serie A table.

With their 3-0 rout of Palmeiras in league action on Sunday, Flamengo now enjoys a 5-1-0 run across all competitions, and have suffered just one defeat in their past nine matches overall. The club’s surge has been fueled by continued steady play on home turf, where they have suffered just one defeat over their past 16 contests while keeping clean sheets on six occasions.

Flamengo has also enjoyed success in recent dates with Grêmio, whom they will face in semifinal action, starting with a trip to Arena do Grêmio on October 2. The Rubro-Negro have surrendered just one total goal in three straight victories over their Brazilian rivals. However, each of those wins have come on home turf.

Home Turf Key to Grêmio’s Championship Hopes

Indeed, home turf takes on significance in this semifinal clash, with Grêmio’s 1-0 victory in league action back in July 2017 marking the only road victory in 13 head-to-head meetings between these two clubs since 2014. That bodes poorly for Grêmio, who face an uphill battle to claim their second Copa Libertadores title in three years, and pay out on +350 championship odds, after posting consecutive wins just once during a shaky 5-5-2 run across all competitions since mid-July.

‘The Little Onion’ makes gremista eyes water with joy❕@Gremio were 2-0 down, away ? the reigning Brazilian champions

Everton Cebolinha scores 1⃣ then beats 5⃣ men to set up another as they reach @TheLibertadores semis

'Imortal' by name. Immortal by game ? https://t.co/DVoPR5eyL5

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) August 28, 2019

However, it would be unwise to underestimate Grêmio in a matchup with tournament favorites. The club rose to the occasion in a quarterfinal clash with tournament favorites Palmeiras,  mounting a comeback in the second leg of their matchup to claim a 2-1 victory on the road to knock off the Verdão on the strength of away goals.

But regardless of which Brazilian powerhouse reaches this year’s Copa Libertadores final, they will face stiff competition from the winner of this year’s other semifinal, which features a rematch of last year’s Copa Libertadores final.

Argentine Rivals Clash in Rematch of 2018 Final

With a combined 69 Argentine Superliga championships and 10 Copa Libertadores titles to their credit, winning experience will not be lacking as defending champions River Plate takes on rival Boca Juniors in this year’s other semifinal .

#LaPrevia | No se ven las caras desde el 9 de diciembre de 2018 en la final de la Copa Libertadores 2018. Pratto, Quintero y Martínez serían los héroes de esa noche histórica. pic.twitter.com/oIbRIIoLQg

— Rivermaniacos (@rivermaniacos1) September 1, 2019

River Plate have emerged as the class of this tournament in recent years. In addition to lifting the trophy in two of the past four years, the club is undefeated in ten tournament matches this season, and has suffered just one defeat since the beginning of the 2018 season.

A shaky start to the Superliga campaign has done little to boost River Plate’s position on the Copa Libertadores championship odds, where they lead only Grêmio as a +275 bet. Los Millonarios have struggled in recent outings, scoring just one total goal while going 1-1-1 over their past three overall matches, capped by a scoreless draw with Boca Juniors in league action last weekend.

Juniors Powering Impressive Run With Stingy Defense

The Juniors may be peaking at the right time as they prepare to take on River Plate as +225 second-favorites on the Copa Libertadores futures.

History has been made tonight..

Esteban Andrada is the first GK in Boca Juniors history to have EIGHT clean sheets in a row! pic.twitter.com/ZBg4yZyaBP

— Boca in English | Podcast ? (@CABJ_English) August 29, 2019

The Blue and Gold have been dominant since suffering a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to Tigre in the Copa de la Superliga final three months ago, surrendering just three total goals during an 8-3-2 run across all competitions, and look poised to claim their seventh all-time Copa Libertadores title, and their first since 2012.

Pick: Boca Juniors (+225)