Gremio vs Santos Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Sunday’s Brazilian Serie A action sees Gremio playing host to Santos. It’s the home side who are the favourites to collect the 3 points.

Coming into the campaign as Copa Libertadores champions and possessing one of the most talented squads on the continent, big things are expected of Gremio this year and so far the side look like delivering. Tricolor took control of their Libertadores group midweek with a 5-0 routing of Paraguayans Cerro Porteno and having also lifted the Campeonato Gaucho prior to Serie A action resuming, things are looking in good shape.

Nonetheless, with the latter of their two Serie A titles having came way back in 1996, top flight glory is what fans are looking for this season and is perhaps the only area Gremio can be criticized in so far, having failed to build on an opening day win away at Cruzeiro, only managing a draw at home to Atletico PR and defeat away at Botafogo since. Back on home turf, where they are 10 matches unbeaten, 7 of which wins, picking up the three points is clearly the target and is something the side are confident in achieving after their midweek performance.

Meanwhile, Santos had very differing fortunes midweek, going down 1-0 away at Nacional. Peixe made it through the group with a game to spare anyhow, but yet another no show on the road has to go down as a big concern ahead of this tricky trip.

Indeed, Jair Ventura’s troops have now fallen to defeat in 4 of their last 7 away games, including a 1-0 loss at Bahia in their last Serie A outing. Home performances remain strong, but for as long as they remain weak on the road, pre-season expectations of an underwhelming campaign, thanks to financial restraints at the club, look like coming true.

Ultimately, it’s Gremio who arrive in better shape and we’re more than happy to back them to win the game. They are a real force on their own patch and should be able to make short work of a Santos side showing little resolve on their travels.

Santos could well be without one of their best performers in 2018 in the form of young star Rodrygo, as he faces a late fitness test, but even if he does make it, you have to fear for the visitors. Over their aforementioned unbeaten home streak, Gremio have kept a remarkable 8 clean sheets, whilst scoring an average of 2.3 goals a game and those kind of statistics, in combination with the way we expect the game to pan out, has a 2-0 margin of Gremio victory looking on the cards.