Santos vs Ceara Predictions

• Both teams have scored in six of the last eight Santos home Serie A matches.
• Both teams have scored in five of the last six Ceara Serie A matches.
• Ceara have scored the first goal in their last three Serie A games while Santos have conceded first in their last three.

Super Ceara can cause Santos problems 

Santos got their Serie A campaign off to a terrible start when beaten 3-0 by Bahia last week and need to show up at home to dangerous Ceara on Saturday night.

Peixe finished eighth last season to sneak into the last Copa Libertadores berth and their opening league defeat came just three days after a trip to Ecuador.

They should be better prepared this weekend, although injured winger Lucas Braga looks set to miss out against Ceara with new signing Marcos Guilherme moving from midfield to his usual spot out wide.

Ceara surprised many last season when sitting pretty in the top six after the first seven rounds and eventually finished in a comfortable mid-table position.

They possess a strong defence, competitive midfield and a dangerman in attack with in-form Cleber having netted the opening goal in his last two games.

His aerial prowess could prove decisive against a Santos side that have shown fallibility when dealing with crosses and set pieces.

But the Dearest will be without first-choice goalkeeper Joao Ricardo, who injured his hand in the first-half of their 3-2 league win over Gremio last week.

We’re backing Ceara to get on the scoresheet first here – as they have done in their last three games – but they can be guilty of relaxing when in front so both teams to score also looks a good way in.

As a correct score play, a 2-1 road win appeals most given Ceara’s remarkable record of six wins from their last nine league trips.

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