Santos vs Fluminense Predictions

Thursday’s Brazilian Serie A action sees Santos doing battle with Fluminense. The hosts will be looking to build on their excellent weekend win with another victory on home soil.

Questions had been asked of new Santos boss Jorge Sampaoli, with performances prior to Serie A ranking as inconsistent, but his Peixe team certainly got off on the right foot at the weekend. The team travelled to a powerful Gremio side as big underdogs but managed to secure all 3 points via a well fought 2-1 margin.

It’s to judge exactly what Santos should be aiming for this season. They certainly aren’t the strongest side in the league on paper, and have lost Gabigol from last season, but in Sampaoli they have a good, progressive manager and if they can hit a run early on, they can begin to aim their sights towards the top end of the division. Having won their last 4 home matches, confidence will certainly be high going into Thursday’s game and those taking to the pitch will be gunning for the win.

Meanwhile, Fluminense got off to the worst start possible, losing 1-0 on home soil to newly promoted Goias via a last minute goal. Flu had most of the ball in said game but couldn’t find a breakthrough against a defensive opponent, meaning the team come into this game somewhat under pressure from the fans.

The visitors’ team doesn’t look the strongest coming into the season and just staying out of a relegation battle would rank as good going for them in the forthcoming year. Last season the team were very poor travellers and having lost their last 5 Serie A away matches in the back end of 2018, confidence cannot be too high coming into Thursday’s game.

Ultimately, on home soil, this is a match Santos have to be expecting to win. They are a stronger team on paper than Fluminense, have home advantage and looked the far more impressive of the two on opening day.

All things considered, we’re more than happy to back a Santos win in this game and like the look of combining it being to nil. Santos won both games between the two last season without conceding, haven’t conceded once in their last 4 home games and face a Flu outfit that hasn’t scored in it’s last two games nor it’s last 5 away in the league. Taking that into account, it’s reasonable to assume a 2-0 home win may well be on the cards.