Flamengo v Barcelona SC Betting Tips [22 September 2021]

Brazilian giants Flamengo welcome Ecuadorian titans Barcelona S.C to the Maracana this week for the first leg of their Copa Libertadores semi-final. The hosts won their second title as recently as 2019, following a 1981 triumph led by Brazilian icon Zico. They made it to this stage of the competition after beating Paraguayan side Olimpia 9-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. It was typical of Flamengo in this year's Libertadores to dole out such a severe beating. Brazil international forward Gabigol has been sensational up front, firing ten goals already, leading the scoring charts. Flamengo's Libertadores campaign has been full of attacking action, with their last three games seeing them find the back of the net at least four times. There have been three or more goals in 16 of their previous 20 Libertadores outings. But Barcelona don't need to be told about Flamengo's attacking threat.  

The two teams played each other as recently as last season when they were paired together in the Libertadores group stage. Flamengo came out on top on both occasions, 3-0 at home and 2-1 away. Barcelona, who made it to this stage after edging out Fluminense on away goals in the quarter-finals, have not kept a clean sheet in the knockout stages, a run of four games. We don't see this form boding well for a trip to Rio. Back Flamengo to score three or more goals.