Santos Seek Improvement Against Vitoria

The Brazilian Serie A resumes this weekend following a busy mid-week run of fixtures.  On Sunday night, Santos host Vitoria at the Estádio Urbano Caldeira, Sao Paulo.

This is a big match early in the season for both teams, who have struggled to get their campaign firing.  Santos begin the weekend in the relegation zone having picked up just 6 points from their seven matches.  A win in this game will be good enough to lift them at least one place in the table.

Vitoria have also had a disappointing start to the league season and sit just 2 points clear of Santos, in 16th place.  A win for them would move them 4 points clear of Santos and possibly as high as 12th if other results go their way.

Santos come into this game having lost 2-0 at Atletico PR on Friday, a team who started the match on the same points. That defeat means it is now five games without a win for Santos in all competitions and trends show they have lost four and drawn one.

Serie A form shows defeats in each of their last three matches, with Santos going down at Sao Paulo, Atletico PR and at home to Cruzeiro.  However, home form is generally good and the loss to Cruzeiro was their first on home soil in five Serie A matches.

Looking back further, Santos have won eleven of their last fifteen home league games, drawing three which is a good record. Santos have scored in ten of their last eleven home Serie A matches.

Vitoria make the trip to Santos having lost 3-2 at home to Internacional on Wednesday night.  Having come back from 2-0 down to level the match in the second half, Vitoria conceded a 94th minute winner to lose the game.

Trends show Vitoria have won one of their last five matches in all competitions and that came at home against Ceara in Serie A. Away form in the league has improved as the season has developed and Vitoria have picked up 4 points in their last two away matches.  They have defeated Vasco da Gama 3-2 and held Botafogo to a 1-1 draw.

Both teams have scored in each of Vitoria’s last twelve away Serie A games.

Looking ahead to the team news and Santos will be without defensive midfielder Alison who misses out through injury.  They also have a doubt over Arthur Gomes, who has previously featured four times in attack this season.

Vitoria will be without full-back Jefferson who is suspended but have no injury problems to worry about.

Most of the issues faced by Santos this season have come away from home and they are usually very good when performing in-front of their own fans.  Expect to see them rise to the occasion in a must-win game and take maximum points, with both teams scoring.