Surprise value in Brazil
Santos take on Flamengo on Saturday evening in Brazilian Serie A as they look to mount a challenge towards the top end of the division.
Flamengo are two places behind in ninth, but both sides have performed better than their league position suggests and will be hoping to demonstrate that in the Saturday evening spotlight.
Flamengo go in as narrow favourites despite playing away from home, just one point behind the hosts in the table.
Santos have only lost three of their opening 14 matches, but it has been draws that have hampered their progress in mounting a push towards the top end.
Process
In an interesting statistical quirk heading into this fixture, both sides have unsustainably underperformed going forward and overperformed in defence.
Suggesting that a goal-laden game could be around the corner for both sides.
Santos have scored just 18 from 25.9 expected goals (xG) for, the second best attacking process in the division, 14 games in, while Flamengo have scored 16 from 24.4 xGF, ranking them fourth in the division.
The visitors are the stronger side defensively, sitting third in the league for defensive process, and it will be interesting to see how that matches up with the second best creative contingent in the league according to xG.
Goals?
The data points towards both sides having some success in the attacking third on Saturday evening.
Therefore, it was a huge surprise to see such a backable price on a basic goals angle, this is possibly my strongest selection of the summer so far, given the rate that both sides are creating chances.
Santos have scored in seven of ten.
Santos have conceded in eight of ten.
Santos have seen both teams score in seven of ten.
Santos have seen over 2.5 goals in four of ten.
Flamengo have scored in eight of ten.
Flamengo have conceded in seven of ten.
Flamengo have seen both teams score in five of ten.
Flamengo have seen over 2.5 goals in six of ten.
This could be a cracking Saturday evening fixture to take in all over the world, while Europe is in its summer break, this division can step forward and entertain with two of its best attacking sides.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
2-1 Flamengo, was a banker.