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

Both sides were victorious in their CONMEBOL Sudamericana ties in midweek, but they now return to league action where they have endured differing fortunes so far this campaign.

Match preview

After back-to-back seasons of disappointing mid-table finishes, Santos have begun the 2022 Brasileiro campaign fairly impressively with the view to breaking back into the top four.

Three victories from their opening six games sees Alvinegro head into Saturday's game positioned in fifth place, just three points off the early pace-setters Corinthians at the summit.

Fabian Bustos' side were beaten last time out in league action though, when they were downed 1-0 at Goias courtesy of an early penalty.

Santos were perhaps hard done to in that defeat, although domination of possession and the creation of numerous goalscoring opportunities proved to count for little in the end.

However, Saturday's hosts responded by seeing off Chilean side Union La Calera by the same scoreline in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana on Wednesday evening, with Lucas Barbosa finally finding a dramatic breakthrough in the 12th minute of second-half stoppage time following a dominating display against the strugglers.

That win saw Santos climb to the top of their group in the opening stages of the cup competition, but focus must now return to the Brasileiro, where the hosts will look to continue their bright start to the campaign by extending their seven-game winning streak on home soil across all competitions.

Meanwhile, after achieving mid-table finishes alongside Santos in each of the past two seasons, Ceara head to the Urbano Caldeira on Saturday on the back of a poor start to the 2022 Brasileiro campaign.

After winning their opening game of the season with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Palmeiras, Ceara have since gone four without success in the league.

Three of these games have ended in defeat, although Dorival Junior's side did end those conseuctive losses by picking up an impressive 2-2 draw with early strugglers Flamengo at the Estadio Castelao last weekend.

Nino Paraiba netted a stoppage-time equaliser in the draw, but the result leaves Ceara in the relegation places ahead of Saturday's trip to Santos.

The 2022 campaign remains in its very early stages though, so there is plenty of time for Junior's men to get their season back on track in the coming weeks, although it will have to come against a side that it has failed to beat in the Brasileiro since 2010, if they wish to do so this weekend.

Saturday's visitors have beaten their hosts in the Copa do Brasil since, but it is seven defeats and three draws that have been recorded in the league since the 2-1 success 12 years ago.

Santos Brasileiro form:

Santos form (all competitions):

Ceara Brasileiro form:

Ceara form (all competitions):

Team News

After making nine changes for the narrow cup victory in midweek, Bustos is likely to revert closer towards his preferred Santos starting 11 when they take to the field on Saturday.

Nineteen-year-old Marcos Leonardo was one of only two survivors in midweek, and the youngster should lead the line again on Saturday following his tally of three goals in six Brasileiro appearances so far this season.

Captain Joao Paulo was the only other player to keep his place, but whilst the goalkeeper will retain his place in between the posts, the preferred back four of Madson, Maicon, Emiliano Velazquez and Lucas Pires should return in front of him.

As for the visitors, 10 changes were made for their 6-0 demolition of General Caballero in the cup on Tuesday night, and like their hosts, numerous changes should be expected again on Saturday as Junior reverts closer to his first-choice Ceara lineup.

Marcos Victor was the only survivor in midweek, and the central defender should have first-choice goalkeeper Joao Ricardo return behind him for the trip to Santos.

Following his injury in the first half of the draw with Flamengo, Vina's availability remains to be seen after he was left out of the squad in midweek, but after scoring two goals in the cup, Cleber could be in line to deputise in attack instead.

Santos possible starting lineup:

Paulo; Madson, Maicon, Velasquez, Pires; Zanocelo, Fernandez; Baptistao, Julio, Rwan; Leonardo

Ceara possible starting lineup:

Ricardo; Macedo, Victor, Lacerda, Pacheco; Lima, Lindoso; Erick, Geovane, Mendoza; Cleber

We say: Santos 2-1 Ceara

Following their bright start to the 2022 campaign, as well as their excellent winning streak on home soil, Santos should manage to pick up a narrow victory on Saturday.

The lowly league position of their visitors cannot be read into too much, but Ceara's slow start to the Brasileiro season is likely to see them come away empty handed here.

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