Santos host Corinthians in Serie A on Sunday with both clubs in desperate need of kickstarting their campaigns.
Santos sit in eighth place with 19 points from 14 matches, while Corinthians are 11th and struggling.
Final de jogo: Juazeirense 2x0 Santos. O Peixão vence por 4 a 2 no agregado e se classifica para as quartas da Copa do Brasil. pic.twitter.com/YaqXFCngo4— Santos Futebol Clube (@SantosFC) August 6, 2021
Final de jogo: Juazeirense 2x0 Santos. O Peixão vence por 4 a 2 no agregado e se classifica para as quartas da Copa do Brasil. pic.twitter.com/YaqXFCngo4
Corinthians have taken 17 points from 14 matches. Manager Sylvinho is surely feeling the pressure with the team losing three of their last four games. Corinthians are coming off of a loss last time out to Flamengo, 3-1.
The Almighty are –2 in goal difference with 12 goals for and 14 against. Their away form has surprisingly been good with 12 of their 17 points coming on the road.
Corinthians have scored six goals and conceded only four times away from home in 2021.
Santos’ home record has been solid. They have taken 14 points from 21 possible at the Vila Belmiro Stadium. Santos’ defence has been excellent at home with just three goals allowed in seven games. Meanwhile, they have tallied nine goals.
Manager Fernando Diniz has a host of injury issues and players missing in action. Luiz Felipe and Danilo Boza are both expected back this month from their respective injuries. Both could make the squad on Sunday against Corinthians.
Goalie John and forward Jobson are both ruled out until September. Meanwhile, Rafael Longuine could return to the side for the game from injury. Sandry and Kevin Malthus are both ruled out for the rest of the season.
Sylvinho has far fewer injury issues. His problems are not with injuries rather it is in the team’s attack. Forward Gabriel Pereira, and midfielders Gustavo Mantuan and Ruan Oliveira are all in line to return for the game this weekend.
Santos and Corinthians have met once already this year during the Paulista state tournament. Corinthians won the fixture 2-0 thanks to goals from Raul Gustavo and Lucas Piton. Both goals came in the first half.
Four of the last 10 matches in all competitions between Santos and Corinthians finished in draws.
These teams are midtable Brazilian sides at best and Sunday’s game could finish in a stalemate for the fifth time in 11 games.
The Brazilian title is out of the question for both teams, but qualifying for the Copa Libertadores for next season is possible.
A draw won’t help either side too much in the race for the top four, but it won’t completely kill their chances of making the Copa Libertadores.
Santos and Corinthians should play out a low-scoring draw on Sunday with under 2.5 goals scored.