The start of the season was not pleasant, with some stumbling blocks and unconvincing football, Santos has been suffering from pressure on and off the field. And this Thursday the Fish needs to turn the key to the State and focus entirely on the Libertadores, when facing Sporting Crystal, away from home. For the duel the Fish must count on the important returns of Lucas Lima and Renato, who were recovering of injury. The teams are in Group 2, alongside Santa Fe and The Strongest, who also duel on Thursday. The clubs have met three times in history, with total control of the Fish. In the meetings the Brazilians won two and tied the other match held. Only the numbers are not valid for the present, because the last meeting between them happened in 1962, by Libertadores, when alvinegro won by 5 to 1. Unlike the end of last season, when the team was in second position of the Brazilian Championship, The start of the club in 2017 is being very negative. With problems in the State, being in the third position of his group and getting so far outside the quarterfinals, the Fish never hid that the total focus in this first semester is the Liberators.
Our Bet Explained
Renato, Lucas Lima and Ricardo Oliveira are at the disposal of coach Dorival Junior and ready to return to the line that paid off last year.
Despite skating in the Paulista Championship, Santos wants to make the Libertadores the competition to be won this year. Players and coaching staff bet on the weight of the shirt for this away game.
The maintenance of the Santista squad was the main key for the 2017 season. Even though it was charged by the fans, the team already showed that it gave results by securing second place in the Brazilian Championship last year.
Our Prediction Sporting Cristal Santos
Vitória do Santos away from home. Although both teams are betting their chips this year at Libertadores, it is a fact that Santos has more tradition and more history inside the competition. Sporting Cristal does not hide that its initial goal is to qualify for the eighth round of the competition. The Fish, although thinking game by game does not hide that its interest is to raise again the caneco of the Liberators.
Prediction: Under 2,5 goals
Odds: 1.70
