Fortaleza play host to Santos on Sunday evening looking to strengthen their hold of third position in the Brasileiro standings.

While the home side sit just four points adrift of top spot, Santos are down in eighth place after winning just five of their 15 league matches this season.

Match preview

After finishing down in 16th position during the 2020 campaign, few people expected Fortaleza to end the current season anywhere above the mid-table places.

However, six wins from eight matches have moved Juan Pablo Vojvoda's men into contention for the league title, a triumph which would go down as one of the most surprising in the nation's football history.

There is much work ahead for a club which lifted the Serie B title as recently as 2018, but Vojvoda will be increasingly confident that his squad can continue to perform with the tag as underdogs.

Last weekend's 3-2 triumph at Palmeiras came in dramatic circumstances with Fortaleza defying a 70th-minute dismissal to net a last-time winner.

While the result was not in keeping with a team which has recently made a habit of 1-0 wins, Vojvoda will take the positives from his players showing that they have the character to last the pace.

As far as Santos are concerned, they are currently on course to replicate their eighth position from 2020 under Fernando Diniz.

Nevertheless, that is regarded as the bare minimum from a squad which has threatened more since Diniz's appointment in May, particularly in recent times with the club on course to make the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana.

Just three defeats have been suffered in 11 games, while Diniz will look favourably at a defensive record which reads as Santos conceding just three goals in 450 minutes of football.

If they can get past Libertad in the Copa Sudamericana, there may come a time when attempting to win silverware in that competition becomes a priority.

For now, however, Diniz will have his sights set on trying to move into fifth position, the gap to Flamengo currently standing at four points.

Team News

Fortaleza will have to make do without midfielder Felipe after he was dismissed for two yellow cards against Palmeiras.

Ederson appears most likely to take his place in a five-man midfield, while Igor Torres will feel that he deserves a recall after netting the winning goal as a substitute.

Diniz will give consideration to selecting the same Santos players which recorded a goalless draw with Corinthians.

However, Gabriel Pirani is an option in a creative area having been provided with an opportunity against Libertad on Thursday night.

While Kaiky was sent off during the second half of that fixture, his suspension only applies to continental matches.

Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Boeck; Tinga, Benevenuto, Titi; Pikachu, Jussa, Ederson, Vargas, Crispim; Torres, Robson

Santos possible starting lineup:
Paulo; Madson, Felipe, Kaiky, Jonatan; Mota, Camacho, Sanchez; Guilherme, Leonardo, Braga

We say: Fortaleza 2-1 Santos

Depending on your perspective, both teams head into this contest in a bit of form, increasing the chances of a match involving plenty of quality. Nevertheless, we are backing the home team to prevail by the odd goal in three, further boosting their chances of qualifying for next season's Copa Libertadores.

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