Palmeiras vs Vasco da Gama Prediction and Betting Tips: Best bets for Serie A clash

Defending champions Palmeiras will be looking to recover from a below-par start to the Brazil Serie A season when they host Vasco da Gama at the Allianz Parque, with kick-off scheduled for 01:30 BST on Friday, 14th June.

Palmeiras began life without Madrid-bound Endrick with a 2-1 win away to Criciuma last time out and will be targeting another win on Friday morning against a Vasco da Gama side reeling from a heavy loss.

Endrick, who has joined up with the Brazil squad ahead of this summer’s Copa America before he heads to Real Madrid, was given a huge send-off against San Lorenzo last month, but Palmeiras will be hopeful they can deal without the wonderkid.

The visitors, who sit 14th in the table, were demolished 6-1 at home to league-leaders Flamengo in their last game and have started the season in dismal fashion, losing five of their seven outings so far.

The underdogs have not beaten Palmeiras since a 2-0 win at this stadium in 2015 and, based on their performances so far, they do not look likely to end that run this time around.

Palmeiras have not enjoyed the best start to the Serie A season but they have made up for that in the Copa Libertadores group stage and they are still within touching distance of the top spot in the league, despite a subpar seventh-place standing.

They have won two of their last three Serie A outings and should have the beating of Vasco da Gama, who have lost five times already this season and were thrashed by Flamengo last time out.

The visitors have conceded 17 goals in seven matches and are winless in their last ten meetings with Palmeiras, so defeat could be on the cards for the underdogs.

However, in-form attacker Pablo Vegetti could provide Vasco with a lifeline.

The 35-year-old striker has netted four in seven matches for Vasco and scored the opener in their defeat to Flamengo. He has scored in four of his last six, three of which ended in defeat, and he could find the net against a home side that have conceded three in their last two.

Vasco da Gama have shown some signs of life going forward this season, mostly thanks to Pablo Vegetti, but defensively they are shambolic at times and that could lead to a high- scoring game in Sao Paulo.

The visitors’ seven Brazil Serie A matches this term have averaged 3.43 goals per game and six of them have seen over 2.5 goals land.

Palmeiras’ games have been more subdued affairs, but they have still seen seven goals across their last three Serie A assignments and have the firepower to put Vasco da Gama’s defence to the sword.