Football Bet of the Day: Santos to enjoy home comforts yet again

Can Leandro Damiao's Santos rack up another home win?

Kevin Hatchard is looking to finish a fluctuating week with a win, and he's turned his attention to one of South America's most famous clubs.

Santos v Figueirense
Sunday September 21, 22:30

In an unusual convergence of two of my strands of work, I actually commentated on Estudiantes v Gimnasia last night, and it took all of my professionalism not to curse wildly at the home side as they ruined our bet with a limp 0-0 draw. It was the first time Estudiantes had failed to win a home game this season, and it was surely the Rat Stabbers' worst home display thus far.

Ok, well let's try to hand you back to Tobias Gourlay with a spring in your collective step, shall we? We'll finish the week in Brazil, and take in a game from Serie A, as Santos take on Figueirense.

Santos, the team of Pele, Pepe (the classy winger not the brutal Portuguese centre-back) and Neymar are a somewhat modest ninth in the championship, but their recent home form is what has caught my attention. Enderson Moreira's men have won six of their last seven games at Vila Belmiro, and five of those victories have come by a margin of two goals or greater. Over that seven-game period, Santos have been averaging two goals per game.

Santos also have an excellent recent record against tonight's opponents Figueirense. The Peixe (fish) have won eight of their last nine home games against The Fig Tree (seriously, I'm not making that up). In all of those wins, Santos led at half-time.

Figueirense have managed to drag themselves out of the dropzone with a fine run of form. Head coach Argel (I'm not writing his full name, because it's naughty - you little scamps can look it up if you want to) has overseen a run of one defeat in ten matches. It tends to be famine or feast for Figueirense fans on the road, with five wins, five defeats and a draw.

Moreira could name an unchanged line-up from the draw with Gremio, while Figueirense will be without full-back Roberto Cereceda, who has a fractured rib. Although Figueirense have improved significantly in the past couple of months under Argel's watchful eye, they have an awful record away to Santos, who are playing splendidly at home after a sticky start to the campaign.

Santos are 1.664/6 for the outright win, but let's trust in their recent home form and back them -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 2.111/10.

Recommended Bet

Back Santos -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 2.111/10

2014 P/L (1 pt per bet)

Points Staked: 27

Points Returned: 24.84

P/L: -2.16 points