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NederlandFlamengo will continue their Brasileiro title defence on Saturday, when they travel to the Estadio Urbano Caldeira to tackle an out-of-sorts Santos side.
While Flamengo made light work of Gremio in the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals, Santos were sent crashing from the competition as they went a goal down to Athletico Paranaense.
Match preview
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Just a few weeks ago, Santos appeared to be having themselves a wonderful campaign, but they have now seen their season come crashing down around them as they suffered defeats in the Copa Sudamericana and Copa do Brasil in quick succession.
Fernando Diniz's men have been disappointing in the Brasileiro Serie A, notching up only 22 points from 11 games to occupy 11th place in the standings, as they hold a six-point safety buffer above the relegation places.
Often flaunting a possession-based football style, Santos have struggled to turn their ball retention into goals recently, registering blanks in three of their last five matches, and are with only one win from their previous seven league matches.
Given their struggles in the domestic league, Santos supporters quickly switched focus to cup competitions where they hoped for silverware to make up for another potentially disappointing Brasileiro season.
However, for all their optimism, Peixe are set to play out a trophyless campaign, as they followed up a Sudamericana defeat to Libertad in the last four with a narrow 1-0 quarter-final loss to Athletico Paranaense last time out, a result which saw them crash out of the Copa do Brasil.
As they return to league action this weekend, Diniz's men will be seeking maximum points to help improve morale in the squad as well as to halt their four-match winless run across all competitions.
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Unlike their opponent, Flamengo are high-flying in the Brasileiro Serie A, where they have garnered 28 points from 15 matches to occupy fifth place in the table.
Given that they have a game in hand on the teams above them, a good run of form over the coming weeks could see Renato Gaucho's men kickstart a title challenge.
With Bruno Henrique firing on all cylinders and Giorgian de Arrascaeta pulling the strings from midfield, Flamengo are joint-top scorers in the league, having registered 28 goals at an average 1.87 per game.
The Vulture's away form is also decent as they have managed three wins from their six travels so far, notching up 12 goals and conceding five in that time.
In action against Gremio in the Copa do Brasil on Thursday, Gaucho's men turned on the style to register an emphatic 4-0 victory to book a place in the competition's semi-final and will now be looking to clinch back-to-back triumphs this weekend.
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Team News
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Sandry's nightmare at the Estadio Urbano Caldeira continues as he is unlikely to feature this term, while Kevin Malthus's ACL injury should keep him out for the remainder of the season.
With Kaiky out on the sidelines, Wagner Leonardo is expected to replace the defender in the starting lineup, and Marinho, who has notched up four goals this term, is unavailable for selection.
Even though Marcos Guilherme, who has registered eight goals this season, is without one since July 18, we expect the 26-year-old to feature for Santos here.
Having served a one-match suspension in their previous game against Ceara, William Arao and Bruno Henrique are set to return to Flamengo's starting XI, a move that could relegate Kenedy and Joao Gomes to the bench.
There are a number of notable absentees including Rene, Rodrigo Caio, Piris Da Motta and Cesar, all of whom are nursing injuries.
Santos possible starting lineup:
Paulo; Jonatan, Leonardo, Felipe, Madson; Mota, Guilherme; Braga, Pirani, Sanchez; M. Leonardo
Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Alves; Luis, Pereira, Viana, Isla; Diego, Arao; Henrique, De Arrascaeta, Ribeiro; Gabriel
We say: Santos 1-3 Flamengo
Following their elimination from the Sudamericana and Copa do Brasil in quick succession, Santos are very low on confidence, and unlikely to find motivation to put up a good show here.
Meanwhile, Flamengo are in good spirits ahead of this encounter and eager to secure a win to move closer to the summit, prompting our forecast of a routine victory for the visiting contingent.
