The Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A all end as the summer draws nearer for the inhabitants of the global north – and for UK/European punters, this somehow signals a dreaded “non-football summer”, unless there’s a big international tournament! While the Lengjudeild, OBOS-Ligaen, Kakkonen and Superettan might not catch the eye of those who regularly tune in to Europe’s biggest clubs, the Brazilian Serie A and Serie B have both the same aura of excitement and frustration as often discovered in the big European Leagues! Those following the big European Leagues surely know the names of Hulk, Willian, David Luiz and Lucas Leiva who’ve returned back home recently and are among some of the interesting players honoring the Brazilian leagues and as we’ve been monitoring those leagues closely and feel confident enough in bringing some angles to the table aimed at those looking for good ole’ league football over the summer months.
Grêmio vs. Náutico
When? Saturday 9th July
Kicks off: 01:30 BST
Where? Arena do Grêmio, Porto Alegre
Angle played: Over 3.5 cards & over 2.5 Náutico corners (Betfair @ 1.86)
As one of the definite pillars of Brazilian football, Grêmio absolutely intends to make their stay in Serie B a short one. Currently third in Serie B and hosting Náutico that’s struggling around the drop zone currently, although hopeful they can win their second match in a row against a Grêmio side after winning Grêmio Novorizontino in the last round. For Náutico, it’s a tough home ground to visit as Grêmio has been defensively solid – visitors have only scored two matches at Arena do Grêmio this season. In fact, Grêmio isn’t going for any Jogo Bonito this season, having only scored 13 and seen 5 against in total. However, opponents have crossed a 3+ corner barrier in 13 of 16 against them.
The referee in charge of this match, Braulio da Silva Machado hasn’t held the bookings back one bit this season although they’re bang on to his all-time statistics (average of 5.31 cards per match from his 158 matches). This season Machado has given 112 cards (108 yellow, 4 reds) in 19 matches, where an average Machado-match is seeing 5.9 cards. Four or more cards have occurred in 17 of those matches. Náutico tops the Serie B table in carding per the average match – and the average Náutico match sees 6.38 cards given, and 14 of their matches has crossed a 4+ card match.
Criciúma vs. Vasco da Gama
When? Saturday 9th July
Kicks off: 20:30 BST
Where? Estadio Heriberto Hülse, Criciúma
Angle played: Each team to take 4 or more corners (SkyBet @ 1.9)
An unexpected top-draw here as rookies Criciúma, 5th, host Vasco da Gama, 2nd. One of the well-known names in Serie B, Vasco are surely hell-bent on making this stint in Serie B a short one following their underperforming season in 2021 – not only for footballing reasons as an American consortium has purchased up to 70% of the club recently. A loss for the hosts can see them drop as far as 9th in the table while a win allows them to keep up with 4th placed Gremio. Vasco da Gama are under pressure by 3rd placed Bahia – two points behind them – and while still 7 points behind league leaders Cruzeiro, Vasco shouldn’t be aiming for a draw here, as hosts Criciúma. With that table situation in mind, it’s important to assess a vital component to an attacking play, namely corners.
While there is somewhat a difference in the averages both sides boast, the similarity is that both sides can split the shares of corners taken quite decently. Vasco da Gama has taken four or more corners in 12 of 16 matches this season with the recent form showing that they’ve taken 4 or more in 7 matches of their last 10. Criciúma similarity have taken four or more corners in 12 of their 16 matches, and 8 of their last 10 see them taking four or more.
Red Bull Bragantino vs. Avaí
When? Saturday 9th July
Kicks off: 20:30 BST
Where? Nabizão, Bragança Paulista
Angle played: Both teams to score (William Hill @ 2.0)
Newcomers Avaí have made quite the entrance into the Serie A this season and despite not boasting a squad with a large profile (at least for us ignorant westerners) they’re currently 12th in the league. Avaí has scored 18 goals and conceded 23 in the meanwhile, delivering impressive performances versus some of the big names in the league such as a 2-2 draw vs. Palmeiras, 1-1 vs. São Paulo. Avaí has scored in 12 of 15, conceded a goal in 12 as well and both sides have scored in 10 of those – 8 of their last 10 having seen that. Forward Guilherme Bissoli is playing well for the Catarinense side, scoring 7 goals, and averaging 2.4 shots per match.
Bragantino, who (in Micah Richards-esque fashion) burst onto the scene in Brazil two years ago are starting their third Serie A stint somewhat disappointingly – as well as finishing rock bottom in their Libertadores group, the energy drink side sit 14th in the league. 20 goals scored and 20 goals against them, 11 of their matches have seen them score, opponents have found their back of the net in 12 of those and both have scored in 8 of their matches – four out of their last 5 have seen both scoring, and those 5 haven’t seen them keep a clean sheet either. None of their forwards have been particularly prolific since star boy Claudinho left for Zenit St. Petersburg but their goals are coming in from a variety of players and midfielder Hyoran is amongst their more prolific. While only 3 goals have been scored by him, he’s their leader in shots taken with 2.4 on average despite being one of those not regularly featuring for the full 90 minutes.
Avaí’s recent form drives the interest in this angle and while Bragantino are underperforming, they still have time to do better, especially with continental disappointments behind them. Teams below RBB in the league such as Cuiaba, Goias and Juventude are amongst the sides scoring against them and Avaí has managed a goal against the current top 3 in the league as well – Palmeiras, Atletico Mineiro and Atletico Paraenense. Bragantino are the highest side for goals on average in the league (2.79 per match, 1.43/1.36) and Avaí the third highest (2.73 per match, 1.20/1.53).
Coritiba vs. Juventude
When? Sunday 10th July
Kicks off: 15:00 BST
Where? Estádio Couto Pereira, Curitiba
Angle played: Coritiba to score 1+ goals & Juventude 4+ corners (Bet365 @ 1.8)
After managing to save their place in Serie A last season by the skin of their teeth, Juventude start this one struggling. Currently second from bottom with lowly 11 points, 8 of their last 10 matches have seen them concede 16 of their 26 goals so far, and have only once in 7 away matches kept a clean sheet). It can be said for them, looking at corner statistics, that they try their darndest to reduce their opponents’ lead and corner kicks have been coming easily to the Rio Grande side – over the same period, Juventude has taken 54 corners, with a range of 6, 7, 7, 5, 5, 5, 4, 2, 1, 6.
Coritiba is comfortably mid-table and the newcomers also hold the second best home record in the league. While 10th overall, they’d be 2nd if we’d only be counting home performance – 16 of their 18 points have come at home as well as all five victories. Before their last match vs. bottom Fortaleza, Coritiba only managed 2 points from their last 6 matches, losing 4 in a row before claiming a 2-1 victory in the dying hours of the match with only 10 men on the pitch.
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