Preview: Santos vs. Fluminense - prediction, team news, lineups

Santos will welcome Fluminense to Vila Belmiro on Wednesday, and the hosts will be desperate for victory
after ending the weekend in 17th in the Campeonato Brasileiro, which leaves them languishing in the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be searching for three points, as they bid to finish in the top six, which would allow them to participate in the qualifying stage of next season's Copa Libertadores.

Match preview

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Santos have collected 29 points from their 27 league games, and as a result, they head into Wednesday's fixture in the drop zone.

One win in their previous 13 league encounters has seen Santos drop down the Campeonato Brasileiro table, and they lost their most recent fixture at the weekend, when they faced America Mineiro.

Ademir scored a penalty in first-half stoppage time to give America Mineiro the lead, before Ale scored early in the second half to seal a 2-0 victory.

Their poor form has been a result of their inability to find the net of late, scoring three goals in their last eight league games, while only finding the net on one occasion in their previous four home matches.

Fabio Carille will be concerned with his side's recent home form, with their previous seven home league games only yielding one victory.

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Fluminense enter Wednesday's fixture knowing that a win would take them up to sixth position, which would be crucial in their bid to finish in the top six.

A three-game winless run came to an end on October 17, with a 1-0 victory away to Athletico Paranaense, and they followed that impressive result, with another victory at the weekend against their bitter rivals Flamengo.

In the derby, John Kennedy scored a brace to give Fluminense a 2-0 lead, and despite Rene pulling a goal back for Flamengo, the win was sealed when Abel Hernandez scored to make it 3-1.

Marcao will be pleased with his side's recent defensive displays, with Fluminense only conceding one goal in their last four outings.

The visitors will be hopeful of collecting something from the encounter, after suffering only one defeat in their previous four league away games.

Team News

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Santos have a long list of injuries, which include Leo Baptistao and John, who are out with calf and meniscus injuries respectively.

Thigh problems rule both Luiz Felipe and Kaiky Melo out of the encounter, while Gabriel Pirani and Jobson are both out with ankle issues.

Jean Mota was sent off two minutes after coming on as a substitute against America Mineiro, which means the midfielder will be suspended for Wednesday's contest.

Fluminense will have to do without Gabriel Teixeira and Fred, who are both missing through injury.

They are joined in the treatment room by Nino and Ganso, while Hudson is out for an extended period with an ACL injury.

Marcao is expected to name a similar lineup to the one that started the derby at the weekend and that means Kennedy will continue to lead the line after scoring twice at the weekend.

Santos possible starting lineup:
Paulo; Danilo, Velazquez, Leonardo; Guilherme, Balieiro, Zanocelo, Braga; Sanchez, Marinho, Tardelli

Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Marcos; Xavier, Braz, Claro, Marlon; Andre, Yago, Arias; Henrique, Paulista, Kennedy

We say: Santos 1-1 Fluminense

Santos are unbeaten in their last six home meetings with Wednesday's opponents, but given their current poor run of form we think that the hosts will have to settle for a point against a Fluminense side who are in confident mood after winning their last two games.