Sao Paulo State foes Santos and Palmeiras will renew their rivalry on Sunday as the latest edition of the Classico da Saudade takes centre stage in Brazil’s Serie A.
As we head into Round 8, Palmeiras find themselves second in the table – two points behind Corinthians. Remarkably, they are one of five teams on 12 points.
Meanwhile, Santos sit sixth – one point behind Palmeiras and level with seventh-place Fluminense on 11 points.
Santos head into Sunday’s showdown on the back of a 1-1 draw with Argentine side Banfield in the Copa Sudamericana, meaning they finished top of their group.
However, that draw means they have managed to win just one of their previous four encounters across all competitions.
When you look at the bigger picture, though, Santos have only lost one of their last seven outings – picking up four wins and two draws along the way.
It is also worth noting that Santos have avoided defeat in each of their previous eight home games in Serie A, so they will be confident of frustrating Palmeiras on Sunday.
As for Palmeiras, they thrashed Venezuelan outfit Deportivo Tachira in midweek – thanks largely to a hat-trick from Gustavo Scarpa.
Consequently, they finished ten points clear atop their Copa Libertadores group after sealing six straight wins. They also scored 25 goals while conceded just three.
Palmeiras head into this clash on a 13-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, having secured ten wins and three draws since their last loss.
Not only have they won each of their last five games, but they have also won nine of their previous ten. Needless to say, that is an excellent record.
Head-to-head: In addition to winning the past five Classico da Saudades, Palmeiras have avoided defeat in each of their previous eight meetings with Santos.
Santos’ last Classico da Saudade win came back in 2019. Since then, Palmeiras have picked up six wins and two draws.
Team news: Having bagged nine goals and three assists in all competitions this season, Marcos Leonardo is undoubtedly Santos’ danger man.
On the flip side, Palmeiras will be without the injured pair of Henri (tibia and fibula fracture) and Joaquin Piquerez (muscle injury) on Sunday.
With just a single point separating Santos and Palmeiras in the table, this is destined to be a close-fought battle between two top teams.
For that reason, Forebet predicts that Santos and Palmeiras will share the points on Sunday. A low-scoring draw is on the cards here.