Early Bird Tips for South America: River to run riot while goals to flow in Brazil
After a 99th minute penalty prevented a clean sweep last week, our expert Nathan Joyes returns to rectify the result with three more South American early bird tips. A trip to El Monumental to watch River dominate at home before a trip north as we get stuck into the business end of the Brazilian Serie A.
- Early Bird Tips for River Plate vs Huracan: River Plate -1 Asian Handicap
- America MG vs Atletico MG: BTTS – Yes
- Tips for Coritiba vs Goias: BTTS – Yes
Acca odds: 7.60
Early Bird Tips Odds via 7.60 as at 09:30, October 31st 2023. Odds may now differ.
River Plate vs Huracan: Hosts winning run to continue
Argentina, Copa de la Liga Profesional, Saturday November 4th, 00:00 (UK)
River are on a roll at present, well, as they have been all year long if I’m being honest. Currently enjoying a nine-match unbeaten run, Martin Demechilis’ side are simply a cut above.
They’ve won all five home matches to date in the Copa de la Liga, scoring 13 goals and conceding just two. In fact, they’ve won their last eight in a row, and they’ve won 24 out of 25 matches since the beginning of March.
Last time out at home, River recorded a 3-0 victory over Carlos Tevez’s ever-improving Independiente. With former West Ham winger Manuel Lanzini, Miguel Borja, Esequiel Barco and plenty more in attack, they are coping just fine without Lucas Beltran since his move to Fiorentina.
Huracan have been performing admirably, sitting in third place. However, defeats on the road to Independiente and Rosario without reply in recent weeks is concerning. When these two sides met back in April, River breezed past Huracan with a 3-0 victory, which would see my tracked bet land this weekend.
- Selection: River Plate -1 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
- Best Odds: 1.85
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stakes: 8/10
Gualaceo vs Delfin: Winless hosts to spring a surprise
Ecuador, Liga Pro, Saturday, November 4th, 18:00 (UK)
The Ecuadorian Liga Pro is well into its second stage and Delfin has continued to challenge at the top of the table. Currently on a five match unbeaten run, losing just once in their last ten, you’d be mad to back a team bottom without a win since June, right?
Well, yes. However, hear me out.
In Ecuador, there are two cities which are 2,500m above sea level. These are Azogues and Quito. Even within the domestic league, there are altitude advantages for the home sides – one of them being newly crowned Sudamericana champions LDU Quito, Aucas, Cumbaya, to name a few, but also Gualaceo. No surprise then that a team bottom of the league with three points lost to all teams mentioned above on home soil.
Despite being bottom, a narrow 2-1 loss to Aucas (competed in this year’s Libertadores) as well as scoring against LDU Quito have been promising signs in recent weeks. Keep an eye on Joaquin Verges, too, who’s by far their best player who operates as a number 10.
However, Gualaceo have picked up points against most who visit Estadio Jorge Andrade who don’t play at high altitude. In the first stage of the domestic league, notable wins against Barcelona, Catolica and Guayaquil City all prove there’s logic in my madness.
Which leads me to Delfin – who play at just six metres above sea level in Manta. The last time these sides met, Gualaceo came away 2-1 winners in 2022. In fact, Gualaceo has managed to score in all three previous head to heads.
There’s an element of doubt whether the hosts pick up three points, which is why I’m siding with the BTTS Yes angle – and hopefully I’ve convinced you as to why. This selection isn’t on bet365 just yet, but when it eventually drops, add it to the Expert’s Acca at anything above 1.70.
- Selection: BTTS – Yes
- Best Odds: 1.80
- Bookmaker: Skybet
- Stakes: 8/10
Coritiba vs Goias: Time running out for the visitors
Brazil, Serie A, Sunday November 5th, 21:30 (UK)
Whilst Coritiba looks destined for the drop, Goias are still fighting for their lives. In 17th spot at the time of writing, Goias need to start turning their draws into wins if they are to stay in Serie A for another season.
Fortunately, a trip to Coritiba is almost the perfect destination for them if they are to scoop all three points. A team which has conceded 64 goals in 30 appearances, having lost five out of their six home games indicates the visitors won’t have a better opportunity to pull themselves out of the bottom four.
Coritiba have the worst home form in the league, and while Goias have struggled to score many on the road (14 in 15), they’ve picked up 13 points – better than Fluminense and Sao Paulo.
Narrow away 1-0 victories over Cruzeiro and America MG show they can do enough to keep similar teams at arm’s length, while recent draws on the road to Botafogo, Cuiaba and Corinthians catch the eye.
Coritiba somehow conjured up a 4-3 victory away to Internacional last weekend, and BTTS Yes was tempting at odds-against. However, at the same price, my gut tells me Goias shouldn’t be in the bottom four and won’t have a better opportunity to prove that than against Coritiba.
The hosts face Gremio midweek before this clash, and another defeat would effectively put another nail in the coffin – and provide Goias with a confidence edge on Sunday.
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