Prediction Athletic Club vs Criciúma 2025 – Betting Tips for the Serie B on 19/08/2025

Match preview: a crunch mid-August showdown in São João Del Rei

Athletic Club welcome Criciúma to Estádio Joaquim Portugal on 19 August in what promises to be an entertaining Serie B encounter. On paper the home side carry the nominal advantage according to the market — Athletic are priced at 2.20 for the win while Criciúma sit at 3.40 with the draw available at 3.10 — but the story beneath the odds suggests a more open affair. Athletic occupy 15th place with 24 points from 21 matches and have shown flashes of resilience and late-season momentum, yet they remain porous at the back with 28 conceded. Criciúma arrive in better league shape, seventh with 32 points and a much healthier goal difference, having found the net with consistency and kept seven clean sheets so far this season.

Recent form and the impact of head-to-head history

Recent results paint a picture of two teams capable of producing goals. Athletic’s last five results include draws and narrow wins, and they arrived off a 1-0 reverse at CRB where Adriel was the standout performer despite the loss. Criciúma, meanwhile, are in a richer vein — a 4-2 triumph over Athletico PR highlighted their firepower and a strong run of victories that underpins their upward momentum; Rodrigo was outstanding in that win. The memory of the earlier season meeting adds spice: Criciúma dismantled Athletic 4-0 back in April, a result that will linger in the visitors’ minds and has to be a psychological weight for the hosts.

Tactical and statistical indicators point towards an open game

The numbers reinforce the expectation of goalmouth action. Athletic’s home matches have seen both teams score in 60% of fixtures, while Criciúma’s away games register BTTS in roughly 45% of outings — a combination that leans toward both sides finding the net. Criciúma also enjoy superior shot volume and accuracy overall, with more total attempts and more shots on target across the season, and their ability to turn chances into goals was evident in the 4-2 win last time out. Athletic’s defensive inconsistencies, reflected in their 28 goals conceded, make them vulnerable to a side that presses forward as decisively as Criciúma do.

Betting prediction and tip

Given the form lines, the H2H reminder of Criciúma’s ability to score freely against Athletic, and the high incidence of both teams scoring in Athletic’s home fixtures, the most convincing call is a goal market selection. Backing Both Teams To Score — Yes is the preferred option for this fixture. It captures the game’s likely openness, the visitors’ clinical edge in attack and the hosts’ susceptibility at the back, while also aligning with the season-long BTTS tendencies shown in the data.