South American Acca Tips: Goals galore As Santos Welcome Returning Fans

Last weekend we managed to land a 5.75 South American acca, and the plan is to keep that momentum rolling.

First up, a trip to Brazil where Santos’ stadium ban finally comes to a halt as they welcome Athletico PR. Judging by recent home matches, we should expect plenty of goalmouth action.

My second selection will be focusing on two sides trying to claw their way out of Serie B. Sport Recife host Novorizontino in what looks to be a finely poised clash on Saturday evening.

Elsewhere, Gremio travel to Serie A’s whipping boys as Vasco looks destined to return back to Serie B having lost their last four matches.

• Santos vs Athletico PR: BTTS Yes
• Sport Recife vs Novorizontino: Under 2.5 Goals
• Vasco vs Gremio: Gremio Draw No Bet

Acca odds: 4.25

Odds via bet365 as at 10:30, 3rd August 2023. Odds may now differ.

Santos vs Athletico PR: Marcos Leonardo to leave Santos in style

Brazil, Serie A, Saturday 6th August 2023, 20:00 (UK)

Santos will play in front of their fans for the first time in a month after their stadium ban was lifted. The boost will no doubt create an incredible atmosphere at Estadio Urbano Caldeira. However, even without fans, the games have been anything but dull.

A dramatic 2-2 draw with Botafogo and a last-gasp 4-3 victory over Goias showed both Santos’ strengths and weaknesses. They’ve scored 18 goals across 17 fixtures in Serie A, but noticeably 15 of those have come at home.

Marcos Leonardo has six of those, scoring a brace last time out at home against Botafogo. Linked with Roma and Nottingham Forest, it looks as though the young Brazilian’s time in Santos is limited. Yet, with his club fighting relegation, he’ll no doubt want to leave them in the best position possible.

A positive for Santos is that Athletico PR travelled to La Paz this week. Having lost their first leg in the Libertadores, several tired legs may be rotated with a rescue mission planned next week.

However, although Leonardo is doing his job, there’s a lot for Paulo Turra to sort out defensively. Conceding 21 goals, and 13 at home, is unacceptable. Six in two matches is cause for concern and an area which Athletico PR will be looking to exploit.

Barcelona-bound Vitor Roque has eight Serie A goals himself. With the young star expected to play a part on Sunday, he will constantly threaten Santos’ backline. Despite their poor away record, Athletico PR have scored in five of their eight away matches. Blanks against Fluminense, Bragantino and Fortaleza are all excusable to an extent.

Priced at 2,0, I think it’s more than generous with the fans returning. While both attacks are in fine form, the defences appear persistently vulnerable.

• Selection: BTTS Yes
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 6/10

More Santos vs Athletico PR Tips

Sport Recife vs Novorizontino: A tight tussle predicted at the top of Serie B

Brazil, Serie B, Saturday 5th August, 22:00 (UK)

On Saturday evening, the best home record comes up against the best away record in Serie B. Sport Recife has been going great guns all season long, largely down to their performances in Recife.

Collecting 28 points from 11 matches, Sport Recife find themselves second only on goal difference. Having conceded just six goals in front of their own fans, it has been their away form which has let them down.

Responsible for a third of Sport Recife’s goals is 39-year-old Vagner Love. Once a Football Manager legend, the Brazilian has been fit and firing this season. However, with just one goal in his last six matches, he’s lacked that spark in front of goal in recent weeks.

Novorizontino, on the other hand, have been almost flawless on the road. Collecting 19 points from 11 matches, they have only conceded eight goals away from home.
The away side head into this fixture with at least six absences due to injury, but only centre-back Cesar Martins has played a vital role this season, who is a noticeable miss to the squad. However, Novorizontino have won three out of four matches without him.

These two sides met back in April, where they shared the points after a 0-0 draw. Last year, Sport Recife edged a 1-0 victory and drew 0-0 away. With too much at stake, under 2.5 goals looks the best way to play this fixture, having landed in their last three head to heads.

• Selection: Under 2.5 Goals
• Best Odds: 1.60
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 6/10

More Sport Recife vs Novorizontino Tips

Vasco vs Gremio: Suarez and co to send Vasco back to Serie B

Brazil, Serie A, Sunday 6th August 2023, 20:00 (UK)

Both Vasco and Gremio achieved promotion from Serie B last campaign but have had contrasting fortunes. While Gremio have kicked on and have an outside chance of lifting the Serie A title, Vasco are likely to head back down.

With just two wins from 16 matches, it’s been a harsh reality mixing it with the big boys. A shock opening day victory over Atletico MG seemed the perfect way to kickstart life back in Serie A. However, since then, 11 defeats have followed.

Having lost their last four matches in a row, Vasco managed to at least get on the scoresheet away to Corinthians last weekend. However, a complete mix-up at the back gifted Gabriel Pec a goal inside the box. Corinthians also played behind closed doors, which should have made life easier for them – but it didn’t.

Gremio have been flying this season. With Luis Suarez staying in Brazil for the foreseeable future after links to Inter Miami, it’s only a positive. Arsenal target Bitelo is still with the club, and with confidence high within the camp, they appear to be an excellent price to conquer Vasco in their own backyard.

Renato Gaucho’s side have defeated Cuiaba, Athletico PR and Bahia on the road, who are all superior compared to Vasco. With ‘draw no bet’ priced at 1.75, I’m happy to stick this selection up, mainly as I had it.

• Selection: Gremio Draw No Bet
• Best Odds: 1.75
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 6/10

More Vasco vs Gremio Tips

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