RB Bragantino vs Santos Prediction: If Bragantino wins, it guarantees a ticket to the quarter-finals

This Paulistão match puts the leaders of Group C and Group A head-to-head. Santos has already qualified for the quarter-finals, but RB Bragantino hasn't yet, needing a victory in one of its last two games to secure qualification. In the record between these two clubs, the Fish has a clear advantage with 20 wins against 10 for the Red Bull. On 16 occasions, the meetings between the two sides have ended in a draw. Santos will compete in the Série B for the first time this season, but its performance in the Paulistão has been worthy of a big club.

This week, the Massa Bruta managed to advance to the Copa Libertadores Third Round by eliminating Rionegro Águilas after a penalty shootout. Bragantino drew both games without scoring a goal and encountered unexpected problems against the Colombians. Red Bull will face Botafogo in an eagerly awaited Brazilian clash to decide qualification for the group stage. That game will take place in a few days, so against Santos, Pedro Caixinha can make some changes to the starting eleven.

The Fish is doing extraordinarily well in Paulistão. The arrival of coach Fábio Carille and the wounded pride of relegation to the Série B have motivated the players to face any opponent without fear. Only Brazil's champion, Palmeiras, has collected more points than Santos in the Paulistão. The Fish has 22 points in the competition, with seven wins and one draw in ten games. The side lost to Palmeiras and Novorizontino, which will be, for sure, a rival this season in the fight for promotion to the Série A. Despite having already secured first place in the group, Santos will go to Bragança Paulista to contest the result.

Bragantino needs a win to secure progress to the quarter-finals of the Paulistão but is coming off an intense Copa Libertadores clash and has another one coming up against Botafogo in a few days. Coach Caixinha may rotate his team for this clash with Santos. The Fish has performed solidly in the competition and will give Red Bull a hard time. I'm betting on a game with few goals, using a TU of 2.5.