Independiente Santa Fe vs Santos Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Both Independiente Santa Fe and Santos have made solid starts to their respective Copa Libertadores campaigns and will look to further boost their last 16 prospects by picking up a positive result here. The Brazilians currently lead the way in Group 2, following an opening round 1-1 draw with Sporting Cristal in Peru and a 2-0 home win over Bolivians The Strongest. Meanwhile, the hosts Santa Fe, hauled themselves back into contention with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Cristal in the last round of fixtures, after losing their opener 2-0 in Bolivia.

Santa Fe look highly unlikely to retain their domestic crown, with the side currently 13 points behind leaders Atletico Nacional and having played a game more. Inconsistent performance sees them sitting 6th, after taking 19 points from 13 games. Confidence should still be high for this game with Santos however, with games on home soil falling on the consistent side of the spectrum, with the side picking up 13 of those 19 points in front of the home crowd. Taking last year into account they have now  lost just 4 times in the last 41 home games.

Looking to make that 5 in 42 is Santos, who arrive off the back of a disappointing penalty shootout defeat to Ponte Preta in the quarter finals of the Paulista State League last Tuesday. Like their opponents, Santos have also been struggling somewhat for consistency and going out at a relatively early stage in domestic competition is a bitter pill to swallow for a club of their stature. Most of their wins in 2017 have been coming against lower league opposition, having lost 4 out of their 5 games with fellow top flight sides.

We think the hosts can take the driving seat of the group by picking up the three points. A key factor in the game will be the high altitude the match will be played in, with the city of Bogota 2600 metres above sea level.

That’s an advantage that has seen Santa Fe win 6 of their last 8 games in the competition, conceding just two goals in the process. With two tricky away ties to come, it’s essential they get the job done here in front of fervent home support.  For all their relative struggles this season, they’ve remained solid on home turf and against a Santos team struggling against strong opposition, we see good value in backing them to scrape the three points with a 1-0 win.