Pre-Match Report: Santos x Grêmio

Overview

Today Santos will face Grêmio at home in the 20th round of the Brasileirão. Santos are in 12th position with 25 points, 3 less than their opponents but with a game less played. 

The referee is André Luiz de Freitas Castro with his assistants being Christian Passos Sorence and João Patrício de Araújo. They are all from Goiás. 

Form

Santos’ last game was a 0x0 draw against Cruzeiro away. Both goalkeepers shone in a thoroughly entertaining affair. Squandered chances also contributed to the scoreless game. The game was promising as Luxemburgo’s finally seems to have the team playing well both in attack and defense. Grêmio’s  last game was a 4x1 demolition of  Flamengo at home. Grêmio has been inconsistent as of late, but such a convincing win will have them on a high going into this game.

In the Brasileirão, the teams have faced each other 40 times. Santos’ record is 17 wins, 10 draws and 13 losses. The last match between the two was at the Estádio Olímpico Monumental in Porto Alegre and  ended in a 1x1 draw. 

Team News

Adailton, Léo, and Maikon Leite are still unavailable as a result of injury. Emerson is still undergoing rehabilitation. Fabio Costa is out for the season and seasoned veteran; Sergio, has been bought to replace him.

According to the official Santos website the 20 man squad for the match is as follows:

Goleiros: Felipe (goleiro), Douglas (goleiro)

Zagueiros: André Astorga, Domingos, Eli Sabiá, Fabão 

Laterais: Luizinho, Pará, George Lucas, Triguinho 

Volantes: Germano, Rodrigo Mancha, Rodrigo Souto, 

Meias: Robson, Madson, Paulo Henrique Lima 

Atacantes: Felipe Azevedo, Kleber Pereira, Neymar, Tiago Luis