Santos vs Palmeiras Prediction

Recent form tells two different stories

Santos have won more than half of their last 20 matches at home and away combined, but they've also shipped a fair few goals along the way, conceding 22 in that span. It's been entertaining, not always tidy.

Santos: 20 completed matches; Palmeiras: 20 completed matches.

Santos

20 matches

Win

55% 11 / 20

Draw

25% 5 / 20

Loss

20% 4 / 20

Scored

32

Conceded

23

Difference

+9

Palmeiras

20 matches

Win

50% 10 / 20

Draw

30% 6 / 20

Loss

20% 4 / 20

Scored

35

Conceded

16

Difference

+19

Palmeiras' equivalent run shows a similar win tally but a noticeably tighter defence, letting in only 16 across their last 20. They've drawn a lot of games too, which points to a side that's hard to break down even when they're not scoring freely.

Palmeiras look the more defensively solid side coming into this one, at least based on recent output.

Comparative Team Statistics: Santos vs Palmeiras

A recent head-to-head with no clear pattern

These two have already crossed paths twice this season in the Copa do Brasil, drawing 0-0 at Santos before Palmeiras won 3-0 in the return leg. Further back there's a 1-1 draw between them in the league and a run of tight, low-scoring meetings.

Nothing in that sample points to a dominant side. Some games have been cagey, others have swung heavily one way, so recent history alone doesn't settle much here.

The league table paints a clearer picture

Palmeiras sit second with 57 points from 28 games, while Santos are down in eighth on 38 points from 27. That's a solid gap both in points and in overall output, with Palmeiras scoring more and conceding notably less across the campaign.

The table backs up the form numbers: Palmeiras have simply been the more effective side over the season so far.

Key names and a few doubts

Gabriel Barbosa has been Santos' main scoring threat with 11 goals in 19 appearances, so how he's used against a tighter Palmeiras defence matters. On the other side, Palmeiras spread their goals more evenly between J. López and Maurício, with Andreas Pereira supplying plenty of assists from midfield.

Santos:

Best scorers:

Gabriel Barbosa - 11

Penalty cards:

Gabriel Barbosa x 1 x 7

Á. Barreal x 1 x 6

G. Escobar x 7

Injury list:

Tiquinho Soares

Palmeiras:

Best scorers:

J. López - 8

Maurício - 7

Best assist providers:

Andreas Pereira - 10

J. López - 4

Injury list:

Mauricio

Vitor Roque

There are a few names listed as questionable on both sides, including Tiquinho Soares for Santos and Maurício and Vitor Roque for Palmeiras. None of that confirms they'll actually miss out, but it's worth keeping an eye on team news closer to kickoff.