Santos will entertain local rivals Palmeiras at the Estádio Urbano Caldeira in the Brazilian Serie A on Saturday. The hosts have won just eight of their 32 league games this season and are 17th in the standings with 33 points.
Verdão are at the top of the standings, with 68 points, the same as second-placed Flamengo.
Peixe are winless in their last five league games. They met Flamengo last week and fell to a 3-2 away loss. They saw a late surge as Gabriel Bontempo scored in the 89th minute and Lautaro Díaz added the second goal in stoppage time, but they failed to find that equalizing goal.
The visitors saw their unbeaten streak across all competitions end after four games last week, losing 2-1 away to Mirassol. Vitor Roque had equalized in the 30th minute, but Mirassol bagged a winner in stoppage time before the first-half break.
Santos vs Palmeiras Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams contest Clássico da Saudade and have crossed paths 354 times in all competitions. The visitors have the upper hand in these meetings, recording 154 wins. Peixe have 108 wins, and 92 games have ended in draws.
- Verdão extended their winning streak in this fixture to three games last week, recording a 2-0 home win in the reverse fixture.
- The last six meetings between them have produced conclusive results, with the visitors recording four wins.
- The league leaders have the second-best attacking record in the league this season, scoring 58 goals, 25 more than Santos.
- No team has played fewer draws (5) in the league this season than Verdão.
- Peixe have conceded one goal apiece in their last four home games in the Brazilian Serie A.
Santos vs Palmeiras Prediction
Alvinegro have recorded just two wins across all competitions in August, with both registered at home. They have won just one of their last nine Serie A meetings against their local rivals, with that triumph registered away from home.
Neymar has been training with the squad ahead of this crucial match and will undergo a late fitness test.
The league leaders conceded for the first time after four games last week and will look to improve upon that record. They have won four of their last five games in this fixture, scoring two goals apiece in them. They have lost three of their last four away games, conceding eight goals, which is a cause for concern.
Facundo Torres, Flaco López, and Vitor Roque are on international duty and will sit this one out.
Considering the current form of the two teams and the visitors' recent record in this fixture, we back the league leaders to eke out a narrow win.
Prediction: Santos 1-2 Palmeiras
Santos vs Palmeiras Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Palmeiras to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: Both teams to score - Yes
Tip 4: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes