Several huge football derbies will take place in South America this weekend. Amongst them, Argentinian giants River Plate and Boca Juniors meet in the Superclasico, while the Porte Alegre rivals Internacional vs Grêmio face off in the Grenal.
With fierce and captivating ties ahead in Argentina and Brazil, we look at some of the best picks in the football derbies this weekend.
Football derbies this weekend: Our picks
River Plate vs Boca Juniors – Over 5.5 Cards
River Plate and Boca Juniors enter one of world football’s biggest rivalry showdowns on Sunday. However, the long-standing Buenos Aires foes come into the clash out of form in the new Copa de la Liga Profesional season.
Last season’s runners-up, River Plate, have won just three of their opening six games. Boca Juniors have been in even worse form than their rivals, as they sit 14th with two wins and three draws.
With neither side inspiring confidence, sticking with cards in the Superclasico is a solid pick. This encounter is a generally feisty affair, with 29 cards coming in the last six meetings between the sides.
Last season’s clash at the Estadio Mâs Monumental was particularly fiery. There were six dismissals, three for each side and nine yellows brandished. As a result, another aggressive River Plate vs Boca Juniors clash is expected this Sunday.
Independiente vs Racing Club – Independiente Win to Nil
The Avellaneda derby sees the local rivals of Independiente and Racing Club lock horns for the first time in 2024. Following some strong early season form, a third-placed Independiente appear favourites to overcome the 11th-placed Racing Club.
The Red Devils have been rock solid early in the 2024 campaign, with four wins from six matches. But defensive solidity has also been central to the club’s success. Carlos Tevez’s side have conceded just one league goal, and kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Copa de la Liga Profesional.
Independiente will likely continue their solid defensive record this weekend against a Racing Club side that has failed to score in three of their six matches so far.
Tevez’s side also triumphed in the most recent Avellaneda derby without conceding, as the Red Devils cruised to a 2-0 win at Racing Club in September.
Flamengo vs Fluminense – BTTS: No
The Fla–Flu derby will reignite on Saturday as the two giants from Rio de Janeiro meet in the Campeonato Carioca league.
Despite the fierce rivalry between two of Brazil’s biggest clubs, attacking output is often low when the sides meet. In three of the last four Fla-Flu fixtures, only one has finished with both sides scoring, while the sides have managed just three goals between them in this spell.
Neither side has seen both teams score often this season either. Fluminense has had BTTS: No scorelines in their last three games, with just two goals scored in total.
Flamengo have a longer run of BTTS: No results compared to their rivals, as the Scarlet-Black have kept a clean sheet in their last six games.
Goals are not a given in this potentially cagey clash, and we anticipate another low-scoring grudge match with at least one team failing to net at the Maracanã.
Internacional vs Grêmio – Internacional to score over 1.5 goals
Internacional and Grêmio are jostling for the top spot in the Campeonato Gaúcho, but the Reds currently lead their Porte Alegre foes by one point. Eduardo Coudet’s side also heads into the Grenal in stronger form than the Tricolour.
Internacional have additionally won five straight matches in all competitions, and home form is another massive strength for the Reds, as they have triumphed in their last six at Estadio Beira-Rio.
Goals have been a welcome addition to Internacional’s recent victories, as the table toppers have netted two or more goals in four of their last five fixtures.
Such form stands in high contrast to Grêmio, who have ceded ground to their rivals with two draws from their last three. Renato Portaluppi’s side has struggled to keep the goals out on their travels too, shipping 30 in their last 15 away.
Internacional will thus be confident of continuing their scoring streak with multiple goals against Grêmio.
