Why Flamengo remain a great price to win the Carioca

The Copa do Brasil champions are looking strong under Felipe Luis, while their rivals struggle for consistency with the domestic season around the corner.

Flamengo’s price continues to shorten, but priced around the evens mark with their next two matches at the Maracana, this star-studded side can win their second trophy in 2025 according to South American expert, Nathan Joyes.

Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at time of publishing and subject to change.

“Flamengo’s settled side to punish rivals”

Before the domestic league begins, regional cup competitions take place in Brazil – and Flamengo are proving to be the best team in Rio.

Having defeated Botafogo comfortably 3-1 in the Super Cup final, Felipe Luis’ side sit second in the Carioca table three points behind Volta Redonda with a game in hand.

Their early form in the competition can be put to one side as their reserves covered for the first team who were still on their end-of-season break. But in recent weeks, their superstars have returned, winning three of their four games – including a 2-0 win over the table toppers Volta Redonda.

Up next they face Botafogo (4.5). However, the Copa Libertadores champions have been managerless since January, and key players such as Luiz Henrique and Thiago Almada have since departed. As mentioned, Flamengo breezed past them in the Super Cup final, and their focus at present isn’t this competition – it’s actually having a coach in charge in time for the league.

Fluminense (8.0) only just stayed up on the final day of the season – and while they may have Thiago Silva at the back, they’ve lost their star striker this week. Kaua Elias has joined Shakhtar, leaving German Cano (37) as their sole striker.

Vasco (6.0) remain Flamengo’s next rivals in the market, but even with their first team returning in recent weeks, they’ve yet to impress. They haven’t beaten Flamengo in their last seven head-to-heads, and have drawn with Volta Redonda and Sampaio Correa in recent weeks – teams they should be comfortably brushing to one side.

Flamengo may be priced just shy of evens, but filled with internationals including de Arrascaeta, Gerson, and Erick Pulgar, to name a few, Felipe Luis can win a third trophy in a matter of months.

“Felipe Luis has Flamengo back on track”  

Towards the end of last season, former Brazilian head coach Tite was dismissed and Felipe Luis was promoted from the U20s to lead the first team until the end of the season.

However the former Chelsea full-back impressed so much, especially by winning the Copa do Brasil title, that the board put full faith in the young manager to lead the charge in 2025.

Their ambitious, hungry manager has a point to prove at this level – and the more trophies he adds to the collection, the more convinced both the board and the fans become.

Botafogo, Fluminense and Vasco all have their own issues to worry about, while Flamengo are heading into the season the most settled they’ve been in years.

His team come up against Botafogo in the early hours of Thursday morning having kept four clean sheets in a row in the Carioca, and with almost a fully fit squad to choose from, the Brazilian giants are worth backing at 1.95  to lift the trophy before the price becomes even shorter – so back it while you can.

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