Banfield vs Santos
Banfield had a poor season in 2021, but managed to beat Velez Sarsfield 3-2 in the Copa Sudamericana Argentine playoff in March to return to this competition after three years of absence. The team continue struggling this year: last Friday, they lost 2-0 at home to Argentinos Juniors, which means they succumbed to three defeats in the last four competitive games and are producing an irregular campaign, with 11 points in eight games in the league. Furthermore, Banfield also are on two consecutive defeats at Estadio Florencio Sola.
Santos will start their eighth campaign in the Copa Sudamericana after ending up in ninth spot in the Brazilian league table in 2021. They haven’t played any matches since March 19th, when they beat non-league side Agua Santa 3-2 at home in the last round of the Sao Paulo State Championship group stage and couldn’t advance to the quarter-finals, finishing in third spot in group D behind RB Bragantino and Santo Andre. That victory stopped a four-game winless streak of three draws in regular time and one defeat in all competitions. On away turf, Santos are on three without a 90-minute win, drawing two and losing one.
Santos won’t have important attacking players like Marcos Leonardo and Baptistao, they’ve been awful so far this season in the Sao Paulo State championship, and even though Banfield are not in their best form, I like their chances here.