MX23RW : Monday, November 4 22:01:51| >> :600:2418122:2418122:
[monks data]
Fortaleza
Brasileiro | Gameweek 16
Aug 15, 2021 at 10.15pm UK
Castelao
Santos

Fortaleza
1 - 1
Santos

Crispim (23')
Robson (36'), Pikachu (65')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Sanchez (25')
Paulo (90+8')

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

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Brasileiro clash between Fortaleza and Santos, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fortaleza play host to Santos on Sunday evening looking to strengthen their hold of third position in the Brasileiro standings.

While the home side sit just four points adrift of top spot, Santos are down in eighth place after winning just five of their 15 league matches this season.


Match preview

Fortaleza's Romarinho celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on January 18, 2021© Reuters

After finishing down in 16th position during the 2020 campaign, few people expected Fortaleza to end the current season anywhere above the mid-table places.

However, six wins from eight matches have moved Juan Pablo Vojvoda's men into contention for the league title, a triumph which would go down as one of the most surprising in the nation's football history.

There is much work ahead for a club which lifted the Serie B title as recently as 2018, but Vojvoda will be increasingly confident that his squad can continue to perform with the tag as underdogs.

Last weekend's 3-2 triumph at Palmeiras came in dramatic circumstances with Fortaleza defying a 70th-minute dismissal to net a last-time winner.

While the result was not in keeping with a team which has recently made a habit of 1-0 wins, Vojvoda will take the positives from his players showing that they have the character to last the pace.

As far as Santos are concerned, they are currently on course to replicate their eighth position from 2020 under Fernando Diniz.

Nevertheless, that is regarded as the bare minimum from a squad which has threatened more since Diniz's appointment in May, particularly in recent times with the club on course to make the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana.

Just three defeats have been suffered in 11 games, while Diniz will look favourably at a defensive record which reads as Santos conceding just three goals in 450 minutes of football.

If they can get past Libertad in the Copa Sudamericana, there may come a time when attempting to win silverware in that competition becomes a priority.

For now, however, Diniz will have his sights set on trying to move into fifth position, the gap to Flamengo currently standing at four points.

Fortaleza Brasileiro form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W

Fortaleza form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W

Santos Brasileiro form:
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • D

Santos form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W



Team News

Santos manger Fernando Diniz during the match on June 25, 2021© Reuters

Fortaleza will have to make do without midfielder Felipe after he was dismissed for two yellow cards against Palmeiras.

Ederson appears most likely to take his place in a five-man midfield, while Igor Torres will feel that he deserves a recall after netting the winning goal as a substitute.

Diniz will give consideration to selecting the same Santos players which recorded a goalless draw with Corinthians.

However, Gabriel Pirani is an option in a creative area having been provided with an opportunity against Libertad on Thursday night.

While Kaiky was sent off during the second half of that fixture, his suspension only applies to continental matches.

Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Boeck; Tinga, Benevenuto, Titi; Pikachu, Jussa, Ederson, Vargas, Crispim; Torres, Robson

Santos possible starting lineup:
Paulo; Madson, Felipe, Kaiky, Jonatan; Mota, Camacho, Sanchez; Guilherme, Leonardo, Braga


SM words green background

We say: Fortaleza 2-1 Santos

Depending on your perspective, both teams head into this contest in a bit of form, increasing the chances of a match involving plenty of quality. Nevertheless, we are backing the home team to prevail by the odd goal in three, further boosting their chances of qualifying for next season's Copa Libertadores.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data



ID:459186:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8046:

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Fortaleza win with a probability of 47.39%. A draw had a probability of 26.9% and a win for Santos had a probability of 25.72%.

The most likely scoreline for a Fortaleza win was 1-0 with a probability of 13.05%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (9.25%) and 2-1 (8.95%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (12.63%), while for a Santos win it was 0-1 (8.92%). The actual scoreline of 1-1 was predicted with a 12.6% likelihood.


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Fortaleza vs Santos

Fortaleza
73.9%
Draw
21.7%
Santos
4.3%
23
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Atletico Mineiro's Hulk celebrates scoring their third goal on May 26, 2021
Read Next:
Sunday's Brasileiro predictions including Atletico Mineiro vs. Athletico PR
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Botafogo31197549262364
2PalmeirasPalmeiras31187653252861
3FortalezaFortaleza32179644321260
4FlamengoFlamengo31167850371355
5InternacionalInternacional311411642281453
6Sao Paulo31156104233951
7Bahia31137114237546
8Cruzeiro31128113633344
9Vasco da GamaVasco31127123643-743
10Atletico Mineiro30101194245-341
11Gremio32116153841-339
12Vitoria32115163746-938
13Fluminense32107152834-637
14CriciumaCriciuma31910123844-637
15Corinthians31811123540-535
16BragantinoBragantino32811133440-635
17Athletico ParanaenseAthletico PR3197153339-634
18JuventudeJuventude32810143851-1334
19Cuiaba32610162541-1628
20Atletico GoianienseAtletico GO3157192350-2722


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!