Over 2.5 Goals Tips: Eliteserien entertainers headline 5/1 shot on Saturday

After falling one game short in last Saturday's over 2.5 goals accumulator, I'm returning ahead of this weekend with another fourfold, looking to go one better.

Check out my over 2.5 goals tips below, where a couple of contests in Norway feature, as well as one each from Brazil and Japan.

Football Odds

Over 2.5 goals in Flamengo vs Criciuma EC @ 4/6

Brazilian giants Flamengo have made a solid start to the season, sitting third on 31 points after 16 games. They've outscored the rest of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, netting 28 so far, but they've not been infallible at the back, conceding 17 times, nine of which have come at home, where they play recently-promoted Criciuma on Saturday (20:00).

Nine (56%) of Flamengo's 16 Serie A matches this term have seen at least three goals scored including four of their last five games, and only Atletico GO, Cruizero and Bragantino (all 71%) have seen a higher proportion of their home contests finish with over 2.5 goals than the Rubro-Negro (63%).

Criciuma, meanwhile, made a positive start to life in the Brazilian top tier, going unbeaten in their first three games before losing their next three in the competition.

They've got back on track recently, though, and have lost just three of their last nine outings, scoring in every one of them. In fact, Criciuma have scored in all 15 Serie A matches this season, highlighting their ability to unsettle even the sternest defences in Brazil.

Criciuma sit fourth in the over 2.5 goals table with 64% (9/14) of their games ending with at least three goals scored, and only Sao Paulo (88%) and Atletico Mineiro (86%) top them when it comes to away outings (Criciuma - 83%).

More goals appear likely in the first meeting between these two teams since November 2014.

Over 2.5 goals in Urawa Red Diamonds vs Consadole Sapporo @ 4/6

Over in Japan, the Urawa Red Diamonds host Sapporo at the Saitama Stadium on Saturday (11:00), with the Diamonds expected to win handsomely against the side currently propping up the J1 League.

Sapporo are unbeaten in their last two games but are still 10 points off 19th-placed Kyoto Sanga and have picked up just three points away from home, losing 10 of their 11 matches on the road.

Unsurprisingly, they've shipped more away goals (27) than any other side, with those outings averaging over three goals..

Urawa Reds' home matches, meanwhile, fall just short at 2.92 per game, but their last three at the Saitama Stadium have all gone over 2.5; the 2023 Club World Cup semi-finalists should stroll to an easy win on Saturday.

Football Accumulator Coupons

Over 2.5 goals in Molde vs KFUM Oslo @ 4/7

Molde's goalless draw at Fredrikstad was the only leg of last Saturday's over 2.5 goals accumulator to let me down, yet I am returning to Molde this weekend hoping for more joy.

At home, and against a side 10 points behind him, I have more faith that the Norwegian giants can put their opponents to the sword, and score a few in the process.

Seven of Molde's eight home games this term have ended with three or more goals scored, with their only one to fall short coming way back on April 14 in a 2-0 victory over Kristiansund.

There is further basis to back over 2.5 goals on Saturday when looking at KFUM Oslo's last five matches; in each of them, there have been at least three goals scored, while their last four on the road have gone over 2.5, too.

As a title contender against a newly promoted side, Molde will be expected to take the game to their opponents, and that should create the conditions for a high-scoring encounter at the Aker Stadion (19:15).

Over 2.5 goals in Sarpsborg 08 vs Brann @ 2/5

Elsewhere in the Eliteserien, Sarpsborg 08 host Brann at Sarpsborg Stadion (17:00), with the visitors looking to continue their own title charge as they are currently one point ahead of Molde but four points last season's champions Bodo/Glimt. A 5-1 defeat to the leaders earlier in the month appears to have dented confidence as Brann could only manage a 1-1 draw at home with Haugesund last time out.

However, I expect them to come out swinging on Saturday against a team 13 points below them.

Sarpsborg made a poor start to the season, winning just three of their first 12 games, but they have won both matches this month, triumphing 2-1 at Haugesund on July 7 before thrashing Rosenborg 4-1 five days later.

Saturday's hosts have been the great entertainers this season with their games averaging 3.57 goals - Rosenborg are next up on 3.36. Only four of Sarpsborg's 14 league outings have seen fewer than three goals and three of those were in their first four matches.

The corresponding fixture last season produced three strikes as Sarpsborg beat Brann 2-1, and I'm predicting more thrills and spills on Saturday.

Offers

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 50% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down.

You can read all our latest Football Accumulator Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.