South American Acca Tips: Santos’ new strikeforce can crush Cruzeiro

With September’s international break edging toward its end, Nathan Joyes digs out his South American Acca tips for a midweek round of fixtures.

Internacional and Cruzeiro have opportunities to climb the Serie A table, while Santos’ new striker pairing could see them jump out of the bottom four.

• Internacional vs São Paulo: Internacional to win
• Santos vs Cruzeiro: Santos Draw No Bet
• Fortaleza vs Corinthians: Fortaleza to win

Acca odds: 7.27

Odds via bet365 as at Monday 11th September 2023. Odds may now differ.

Internacional vs São Paulo: Coudet and Co to edge past hopeless away side

Brazil, Serie A, Thursday 14th September, 01:30 (UK)

Inter may have bigger fish to fry in the Libertadores. However, with their semi-final not until the end of the month, it’s all about securing a place in the Sudamericana, at the very least for 2024.

Enner Valencia has been a breath of fresh air since arriving, and the Ecuadorian has been lethal in the Libertadores. If he can start to bring that across to Serie A, Inter can continue to climb the ladder.

Four in four in the competition bodes well for a side that has struggled for goals domestically. Just 17 in 22 matches hasn’t been good enough, but a change in management may be the wake-up call required to salvage their season.

Four clean sheets on the bounce have built stability at the back, but it’s the other end of the pitch which needs to be addressed.

São Paulo arrives with one eye firmly on the Copa do Brasil on Sunday. Having been knocked out of the Sudamericana last week, the mood within the camp will have certainly been impacted.

Despite the solid home form, they’ve been terrible on the road. Collecting five points from ten matches and having only scored seven, it could be what holds them back from a Libertadores spot through Serie A.

With players likely to be rested, this is the perfect opportunity for Inter to climb into the Sudamericana places and build confidence before their crucial match against Fluminense.

• Selection: Internacional to Win
• Best Odds: 2.10
• Bookmaker: bet365

Santos vs Cruzeiro: Golden opportunity for relegation threatened side

Brazil, Serie A, Thursday 14th September, 23:00 (UK)

Santos are staring straight at the prospect of Serie B football, having slipped into 17th place. With just four points and three goals on the road all season, their away form must improve.

However, at home, they’ve performed admirably. Collecting 17 points from 11 matches, Santos are currently on a five-game unbeaten run in front of their own fans. Two draws against Botafogo and Athletico PR aren’t to be sniffed at – and a last-time-out victory over Gremio gives them plenty of hope.

The club refused to allow Marcos Leonardo permission to move this window, relying on the 20-year-old goalscorer to hopefully bail them out of trouble. Having scored eight goals, he’s one of the most promising young strikers in Serie A.

He can’t do it all on his own, though, and Santos has recognised this, bringing in former Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos. The 27-year-old has been a goal machine in Scotland and could be the answer as Santos fights for their Serie A status.

Cruzeiro arrives in terrible form; zero wins in their last eight, with goals also a genuine concern. Although they scored three against Athletico PR in a 3-3 draw, they’ve only scored one in the other seven.

With Santos fighting for their lives and with a lethal strike force, they can’t be ignored at their current price.

• Selection: Santos Draw No Bet (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.92
• Bookmaker: bet365

Fortaleza vs Corinthians: Transfer window to heavily impact away side

Brazil, Serie A, Thursday 12th September, 23:00 (UK)

Fortaleza have endured a mixed season domestically but still has an opportunity to reach the Libertadores next season. With steady home form, Castelao hasn’t been the fortress it can be, but having only conceded nine in 11 matches, not many enjoy travelling there.

Corinthians have only scored eight on the road this year, and although finding form in recent months, it’s been a car crash of a season.

Although they have picked up form of late, the recent transfer market has seen key assets move on. Centre-back Murillo has been picked up by Nottingham Forest, while top goalscorer Roger Guedes has moved to the Middle East. Having scored seven of their 22 goals, he will be a noticeable miss in the final third.

Corinthians, although picking up points which were pencilled in as defeats at the start of the campaign, have still only won one of their last six matches. Young talents are now positioned in the shop window, such as Gabriel Moscardo, who has been linked heavily with Chelsea, but the club are in a transitional period.

Fortaleza has won their last three home matches – a 3-0 win over Coritiba and 4-0 against Santos, showing plenty of free-flowing yet effective football which can punish teams.

With Corinthians losing star players, Fortaleza will look to strike and make the most of their opportunity.

• Selection: Fortaleza to Win
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365

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