Santos ready to make it four in a row against highflying Gremio

Santos v Gremio
11pm Thursday

Santos put Copa Libertadores heartache behind them in some style at the weekend and they can make it four Serie A wins in a row by seeing off highflying Gremio at the Pacaembu on Thursday night.

Boy wonder Gabriel – or Gabigol as they still call him in Sao Paulo – bagged a hat-trick as Santos won 3-0 at Vasco Da Gama to maintain their impressive domestic form.

That well-deserved victory came just days after a controversial end to their round-of-16 Copa tie against Independiente, the second leg of which had to be ended early because of crowd trouble.

Both legs had finished 0-0, though Independiente were awarded the tie 3-0 on aggregate after competition chiefs ruled that Santos midfielder Carlos Sanchez had played in the first game while being ineligible.

It was a sour end to a bitter contest, but it clearly hasn't affected Santos unduly given the manner of their win at Vasco.

Gabriel, on loan from Inter where he has failed to make the impact his potential suggested he should, is the league's joint-top scorer and loving life back at the club where he found such fame as a teenager.

Gremio have their own young sensation up front in Everton, though he is unavailable on this occasion having been drafted into Tite's national squad for the first time.

Everton leaves behind a Gremio side who are fourth in the table, but they've scored only eight goals in ten away games.

Recommendation
Santos
1pt 5-4 188Bet

Read every day for no-nonsense previews and expert sports betting tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport