Santos FC vs Chapecoense Football Match Preview And Prediction - July 4, 2016

Santos have been playing some enterprising attacking football in recent weeks and this is likely to be another good game with Chapecoense also surprisingly throwing caution to wind in the opening couple of months of the season. Santos were involved in a cracker in midweek coming from 2-0 down to level matters in a tough game away at Gremio only to concede again late on. They’d won 5 of their 6 games prior to that though, scoring 2 or more goals in all of those wins so they are creating chances and scoring for fun right now and will come into this game with plenty of confidence despite that loss in Porto Alegre.

Chapecoense are similar to Santos in that they are scoring plenty of goals. Both teams have netted 20 so far, the joint 3rd best tally in the league but unlike Santos who have been relatively good at the back for the most part, Chapecoense have been conceding plenty of goals too. They were 3-2 winners on Wednesday night at home to Cruzeiro but were hammered 5-1 last weekend away from home at struggling Sport Recife. They’ve stuck with their attacking ways though even against the stronger sides and this has the potential to be a cracking game.

Santos have a sensational home record and have secured victories in 17 of their last 19 home league games. With home advantage here against a Chapecoense side who are very easy to get at, you have to fancy another home victory for Santos. However we can’t rule out an away goal here at all. There have been over 2.5 goals and Both teams have scored in all of Chapecoense’s last 5 away matches. They themselves have netted 10 goals in those 5 matches but they’ve conceded 13.

Given there have been 14 goals in the last 3 games involving Santos too, we should see plenty of goalmouth action here but clearly the hosts have the greater all-round quality and backing Santos to win & over 2.5 goals at 11/8 looks like a cracking bet.

Head To Head
Santos were 3-1 winners in this fixture last season and 3-0 winners the season before in the only two recent top flight meetings at the Estádio Urbano Caldeira.

Stats
Santos have won 13 of their last 15 home games in the national league. There were over 2.5 goals in 12 of those 13 victories.

Team News

Dorival Júnior could opt for the same XI for the third game in a row. Ricardo Oliveira is nearing fitness but won't play here.

Right-back Gimenez is banned so Claudio Winck should deputise. Marcelo has also picked up an injury, so Rafael Lima will return.

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