Football Bet of the Day: Neymar-less Santos to suffer again

Sunday's Football Bet of the Day comes from Sao Paulo, Brazil, as Corinthians take on Santos in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A.

Neither side has enjoyed a blistering start to the season, but for one, it's been particularly slow, and things could get much worse for them at the Neo Quimica Arena on Sunday evening (20:00)...

Corinthians finished seventh in Serie A last season, averaging 1.47 points per game, and after eight matches played this term, they're averaging 1.25.

However, at home, they've claimed nine points from a possible 12, beating Vasco da Gama (3-0), Sport Recife (2-1) and Internacional (4-2), only failing to overcome Fluminense (0-2).

Football Odds

Santos, meanwhile, have struggled on their return to the top flight since clinching promotion from Serie B last year.

Peixe have picked up just five points from their opening eight games (W1, D2, L5), losing all four away matches. They started on their travels by going down 2-1 at Vasco, then suffered defeats at Fluminense (1-0), Sao Paulo (2-1) and Gremio (1-0), scoring just twice across those four outings.

Cleber Xavier's side also failed to get on the scoresheet at home to fellow newly promoted club Ceara, who held them to a goalless draw on Tuesday.

Santos have failed to score in three separate games this season and have struck just five times in the league - only four clubs have notched fewer.

Corinthians have only kept one clean sheet in the league this season and have shipped 14 goals - only Juventude (20) have conceded more - but they might fancy their chances of improving on those statistics this weekend against a side struggling for confidence.

Santos have failed to score in both games played this month, and their last goal was only a consolation in the fourth minute of second-half added time against Red Bull Bragantino (1-2) on April 28.

Meanwhile, their last away goal was a Tiquinho-converted spot-kick against Sao Paulo. Their only open-play effort on the road was from Alvaro Barreal on the first day of the season at Vasco.

Santos remain without Neymar, who suffered an injury in his side's 2-0 victory over Atletico-MG on April 17, and fellow forwards Benjamin Rollheiser and Yeferson Soltedo are yet to score or register an assist between them.

I'm confident of a Corinthians win this weekend, and I think it's worth doubling down and backing them to win to nil. At 15/8, that's my Football Bet of the Day for Sunday, May 18.