Opening Odds Split on River Plate vs Flamengo Copa Libertadores Final
- Flamengo defeated Gremio 6-1 on aggregate in the semifinals
- River Plate were 2-1 victors over Boca Juniors
- See the opening odds for the Copa Libertadores final set for November 23, 2019
The stage is set for next month’s 2019 Copa Libertadores final, with River Plate perched as a slim favorite to claim victory over Flamengo, sporting +156 opening odds in soccer futures wagering at sportsbooks.
Copa Libertadores Final – Flamengo vs River Plate Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flamengo | PK (-113) | +166 | O2.25 (-109) |
| River Plate | PK (-121) | +156 | U2.25 (-125) |
| Draw | N/A | +198 | N/A |
Odds taken October 25, 2019
River Plate Claim Finals Berth by Narrow Margin
Los Millonarios dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to Boca Juniors in the second leg of their semifinal matchup on Tuesday, but that proved to be enough to give the Argentine side a 2-1 aggregate victory, and the opportunity to defend their Copa Libertadores title in next month’s River Plate vs Flamengo matchup at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago, Chile on November 23.
River Plate has made steady gains in the odds to win the Copa Libertadores championship as the knockout stage has progressed. River Plate entered the semifinal sitting third on the odds board at +275, but quickly vaulted to tournament favorites following their 2-0 first-leg victory.
Los Millonarios Less than Dominant at this Year’s Tournament
Tuesday’s loss marked River Plate’s first defeat in tournament action this year, but Los Millonarios have been far from dominant in this year’s Copa Libertadores.
The club had gone undefeated in 14 tournament matches ahead of this week’s loss, but earned the win in just seven of those contests, and has compiled a 5-6-1 win-draw-loss record in tournament play this season. And with their loss to Boca Juniors, River Plate are now winless in two straight outings, halting a 6-0-1 run across all competitions during which they surrendered just one goal.
🔥Y SEGUIREMOS TENIENDO EL RÉCORD🔥
✔️ Mas partidos consecutivos SIN PERDER en TODA la historia de la Copa Libertadores:
🥇 17 Sporting Cristal 🇵🇪 (1962-1969)
🥈 16 Corinthians 🇧🇷 (2012-2013)
🥉 15 América de Cali 🇨🇴 (1980-1983)
🏅 14 RIVER PLATE 🇦🇷 (2018-2019)#PielCeleste— Piel Celeste (@pielceleste) October 23, 2019
River Plate has four weeks to prepare for their date with Flamengo, but will be kept busy in the interim. The club has three Superliga matches on the schedule between now and November 10 against three opponents currently mired on the bottom half of the league table.
But things heat up considerably for Los Millonarios when they battle Estudiantes Caseros in a Copa Argentina semifinal clash on November 14.
Convincing Win Lifts Flamengo to Top of Odds
Flamengo returns to the Copa Libertadores final for the first time since 1981 after marching to a dominating 5-0 win over Gremio on Wednesday in the second leg of their semifinal matchup to clinch a 6-1 aggregate victory.
Flamengo scored four goals in the second half, demolishing Gremio 5-0 and qualifying for the Copa Libertadores final for the first time since 1981. pic.twitter.com/XHv7l6ARNj
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) October 25, 2019
After posting wins in six straight contests across all competitions, the oddsmakers have elected to give the nod to the Scarlet-Black as +150 favorites, ahead of River Plate at +160, providing sports bettors with plenty of motivation to shop around for favorable betting lines.
Flamengo lags behind River Plate as +166 underdogs in the Copa Libertadores odds at sportsbooks. But after posting wins in six straight contests across all competitions, the oddsmakers have elected to give the nod to the Scarlet-Black as +150 favorites, ahead of River Plate at +160, providing sports bettors with plenty of motivation to shop around for favorable betting lines over the next four weeks.
Busy Schedule Cause for Concern?
The Scarlet-Black have surrendered just two total goals during their current tear, but will also be faced with a hectic schedule ahead of next month’s Copa Libertadores final. Flamengo has seven Serie A league contests coming off, including a trio of road dates.
Jogos do Flamengo até a final da Libertadores:
Flamengo x CSA
Goiás x Flamengo
Flamengo x Corinthians
Botafogo x Flamengo
Flamengo x Bahia
Grêmio x Flamengo
Flamengo x VascoFlamengo x River Plate
— Planeta do Futebol 🌎 (@futebol_info) October 24, 2019
Most notable among those will be a rematch with Gremio on the road on November 15, followed by a league date with a surging Vasco da Gama currently schedule for the day before the Copa Libertadores final. While the matchup with Vasco da Gama is likely to be rescheduled, the heavy workload remains a concern for a Flamengo club that has developed a habit of playing at full strength in every contest, regardless of importance.
Flamengo Hold Historical Edge Over Defending Champs
This year’s final will mark the third time that these two clubs have faced off at the Copa Libertadores. The two clubs played to a pair of draws in group stage action last season, but it was Flamengo that dominated in a pair of semifinal group matchups back in 1982, outscoring River Plate by a 7-2 margin in a pair of wins.
And with so much time remaining until the Copa Libertadores final on November 23, any number of unforeseen circumstances could affect the betting line, including injuries. But with River Plate enjoying the lighter workload, and the experience of last year’s championship win, any early movement is likely to favor Los Millonarios.
Early Picks: River Plate to win (+160); Over 2.25 (-109)
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
