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

A battle between two big names in relegation trouble will see Santos host Gremio in the Campeonato Brasileiro on Sunday.

As the imperiled pair are separated by just two points and one place in the Serie A standings, it is sure to be a tense encounter at Estadio Urbano Caldeira.

Match preview

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In search of their first league victory in over two months, Santos visited city rivals Sao Paulo on Thursday, where they held their hosts to a 1-1 draw in the 'San-Sao' derby.

Though that result represented a significant improvement on a 3-0 loss to fellow strugglers Juventude last weekend, the Peixe continue to spiral towards the trapdoor that leads to Serie B, having failed to taste top-flight victory since the start of August when they beat rock-bottom Chapecoense.

Now sitting just above the dotted line which demarcates the drop zone, Santos are winless in their last nine league fixtures, and in all competitions they have failed to secure success in 11 games, having also lost both legs of their Copa do Brasil tie with Athletico Paranaense.

They are in such dire straits partly due to winning just four of their 11 league matches at home, so will require a change of fortunes at their historic headquarters sooner rather than later.

Fabio Carille, only appointed last month, has been unable to produce an upturn in results for the Alvinegro, who have now found the back of the net in just two of their last eight outings - a dismal tally which has them set on a course for the drop.

Their last three meetings with Sunday's opponents, however, have produced a flood of goals - 15 in all - and their most recent home game versus Gremio brought about a memorable 4-1 victory in last year's Copa Libertadores quarter-finals.

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Having spurned an opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone on Wednesday, when they hosted mid-table Cuiaba but could only draw 2-2, Gremio enter the weekend in 17th spot in the table, but still with a game in hand on Santos and most of their survival rivals.

The Porto Alegre side had previously lost their last two league fixtures, as charismatic coach Luiz Felipe Scolari struggles to arrest a decline which set in before he was recalled to the club for a fourth spell in charge.

Since his appointment during the summer, former national team boss 'Felipao' has seen an immediate response to his methods give way to a worrying trend of results, including a Copa do Brasil elimination after a 6-0 aggregate loss to free-scoring Flamengo, and a subsequent run of just four points from four league games.

For a team that is among the lowest scoring in Serie A, conceding eight times in their last three games is also a cause for concern ahead of the trip to the Sao Paulo suburbs - as is their away record; having lost seven of their ten games on the road this term.

Earlier this week, Scolari was forced to quell rumours that his players were openly arguing about tactics and selection in the changing room, as the veteran coach tackles one of the toughest tests of his 40-year career.

Team News

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Santos have a relatively lengthy injury list ahead of Sunday's game, as teenage defender Kaiky Melo is still missing with a thigh injury, and he is joined on the sidelines by both Madson and Luiz Felipe, while young midfielder Robson has an ankle problem and is a major doubt.

Fabio Carille is likely to retain the bulk of the side which drew the derby in midweek, with goalscorer Carlos Sanchez starting in central midfield, and Leo Baptistao - who has yet to score since arriving from China - joining seven-goal Marinho up front.

Meanwhile, the visitors' attacking midfielder Alisson netted both Gremio goals on Thursday, and responded by animatedly demanding "respect" from the club's fans after facing a rising tide of criticism. Despite Luiz Felipe Scolari's recent rotation policy, the former academy product should start again, joining Douglas Costa and Diego Souza in a three-man attack.

Souza is poised to keep his place as Miguel Borga - who would have been away on international duty with Colombia in any case - is currently out with an ankle injury.

Jaminton Campaz should also feature, as he continues to cover for midfielder Mathias Villasanti, who is currently representing Paraguay in World Cup qualifying.

Santos possible starting lineup:
Paulo; Leonardo, Velazquez, Vinicius; Pirani, Sanchez, Camacho, Para; Mota, Marinho, Baptistao

Gremio possible starting lineup:
Chapeco; Vanderson, Ruan, Kannemann, Rafinha; Santos, Campaz, Jean Pyerre; Allison, Costa, Souza

We say: Santos 1-2 Gremio

If they are to avoid dropping into the second tier at the end of an arduous campaign, Gremio must seize the initiative against struggling Santos early on - particularly considering their hosts' lack of killer instinct in and around the opposition area.

If Douglas Costa and company can finally put together a coherent attacking performance, then the Imortal Tricolor can prolong their counterparts' pain and leapfrog them in the table.