Football Bet of the Day: Confident Cuiaba to defeat Flu

Brazil has been a regular jaunt for our football bet of the day columns in recent weeks, and it's to the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A I return for Monday's football bet of the day.

Cuiaba and Fluminense are the chosen ones as the lowly teams meet at the former's home, Arena Pantanal (00:00), with the visitors looking for just their second league victory this year.

Football Odds

After winning the 2023 Copa Libertadores last November and reaching the final of the Fifa Club World Cup 48 days later, few could have predicted the depths Fluminense would sink to this season.

The Tricolor successfully navigated their Copa Libertadores group, going unbeaten to finish ahead of Colo-Colo, Cerro Porteno and Alianza Lima, but it's been a different story in Serie A, where they sit bottom after 16 games played.

They've picked up just eight points from a possible 48 and are yet to win away from home, losing seven of their eight away outings and scoring a meagre three goals.

Fluminense's only win this season came all the way back on April 20 when they edged out Vasco da Gama 2-1 at the Maracana, though they have taken a point in two of their last three games, holding Criciuma and Internacional to 1-1 draws either side of a 1-0 defeat to Fortaleza.

That strike at Criciuma only came in the 90th minute to earn a point and break them out of a 500-plus minute barren run in front of goal away from home.

There have been injury issues at Fluminense but not enough to fully explain the team's demise this term, and even the return of the influential Andre - heavily linked with a move to the Premier League - has failed to inspire them to victory in recent weeks.

Cuiaba vs Fluminense Odds

Cuiaba, meanwhile, should be in a confident mood despite only sitting 15th and just two points above the drop zone heading into the weekend - though they are nine points ahead of their next opponents.

The Dourado have only lost two of their last 11 games - and one of their last seven - to recover from a horrific start that saw them lose their first five league matches.

Things look to be on the up for Cuiaba, who won 2-1 away to fifth-placed Bahia last week, though they will be aware of the importance of converting draws into triumphs as four of their last six games have ended in stalemate.

Despite only Atletico-GO (two) picking up fewer points than their total of six at home, Cuiaba have been tough to breach at home, conceding just nine times across eight matches and keeping three clean sheets in their last five at Arena Pantanal. However, they haven't shut out the opposition since a goalless draw with Atletico-Go on June 22.

However, they've only conceded six goals in those five games, and against a Fluminense side that has struck just twice in their last seven outings, Cuiaba should be confident of getting back on the clean sheet trail.

The home return of last season's top goalscorer Deyverson should also boost them this week, with the 33-year-old yet to feature at Arena Pantanal in the league this term after suffering an injury on the first day of the season at Athletico Paranaense which kept him out until last weekend.

The tide will surely turn soon for Fluminense, but I'm not banking on it being in Monday's contest, which Cuiaba can edge.

Nine of the Dourado's Serie A matches this season have ended in under 2.5 goals, and they could bring up number 10 tomorrow against an opponent they beat 3-0 in last year's corresponding fixture.

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.

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