Vasco da Gama vs Fluminense Prediction: Couple of shots for Coutinho in Rio

Two sides firmly in the hunt for a top-six finish in the Brazilian Serie A, Vasco da Gama and Fluminese, meet on Monday (23:30 BST) at the former's Sao Januario in Rio de Janeiro.

Below are my Vasco da Gama vs Fluminense predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Vasco midfielder Hugo Moura saw red in the 40th minute of Thursday's 2-0 victory over Fortaleza and will serve a suspension in Monday's game.

Adson (broken leg) and Jair (knee) remain sidelined through injury.

Football Odds

Ganso (calf) and Nonato (foot) are out injured for Fluminense, who could also be without Keno (unspecified) again.

However, Luciano Acosta, who missed Friday's 1-0 win against Juventude, should return.

Vasco da Gama vs Fluminense Odds

Vasco have beaten Fluminense at home in the last two seasons, winning 4-2 in September 2023 and 2-0 in August 2024. Fernando Diniz's side are 15/8 to make it three in a row on Monday, implying a 34.8% probability of success, while Flu are 6/4, or a 40% chance, to do the double, having triumphed 2-1 at the Estadio do Maracana in May.

The draw is priced at 2/1, both teams to score at 10/11, and over 2.5 total goals at 5/4.

Bet Builder - Philippe Coutinho (VSG) Total Shots - 2+, Nuno Moreira (VSG) Total Shots - 2+ @ 11/4

Vasco playmaker Philippe Coutinho is averaging 2.2 shots per game in Serie A this season and has recorded 2+ attempts in 10 of his 12 outings at Sao Januario.

The 33-year-old failed to record a single shot against Fortaleza last week, but Vasco were reduced to 10 men in the 40th minute, and the former Liverpool star was withdrawn just after the hour mark.

In his two previous appearances, Coutinho shot three times in a 3-0 away defeat to Palmeiras and twice in a 4-3 home victory over Vitoria.

Today's Football Fixtures

Coutinho's teammate, Nuno Moreira, scored in his last home appearance against Vitoria, and has shot 2+ times in two of his last three outings at San Januario.

Flu have conceded 11+ shots in their last four away games across all competitions, and in their 2-2 draw at Sport Recife on October 1, both starting home wingers, Matheusinho and Chrystian Barletta, shot twice apiece.

Moreira, high on confidence after his recent strike at home, can match Coutinho here and record a couple of efforts against Flu.

Player to Receive a Card - Cauan Barros (VSG) @ 7/4

Cauan Barros spent the first half of the season on loan at Serie B side America MG, for whom he received six yellow cards in 17 league appearances, averaging 2.1 fouls per game. He was also handed four yellows and one red in 10 Mineiro outings earlier in the year.

Since returning to Vasco at the beginning of August, Cauan Barros has established himself as an integral member of their starting XI. He's begun nine of their last 10 matches, only missing the 3-0 defeat to Palmeiras on October 1 due to suspension.

The 21-year-old has picked up three cautions in his last six appearances, and he is averaging 1.6 fouls per game.

On Monday, Cauan Barros could be in a midfield battle with Matheus Martinelli and Hercules, who were fouled twice apiece in Flu's victory over Juventude last week. Acosta, who has been fouled, on average, 1.3 times per game in the Brazilian top flight this term, is another potential starter for Flu, as are wingers Kevin Serna (fouled three times v Juventude) and Agustin Canobbio (fouled once v Juventude).

Offers

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