Palmeiras Look Well Placed to Beat Vitoria

League leaders Palmeiras head to Vitoria with stronger form, a superior record at both ends, and a dominant recent head-to-head result. Vitoria have struggled defensively and arrive short on confidence after another recent defeat.

By 7MTHScore Staff

Brazil's Serie A continues on Thursday morning, with Palmeiras away to Vitoria. Vitoria's form has shown signs of slipping, and after being thrashed the last time they faced Palmeiras, another defeat here would not be a surprise.

Vitoria have been ordinary this season. After 20 league matches, they have collected just 26 points and sit around the lower half of the table. Their defensive record has clearly been a factor, with the side conceding an average of 1.35 goals per game in the league, and it is an issue they need to address quickly. They have managed only one win in their last four league matches, and were beaten 2-0 by Remo in the previous round, which does little to inspire confidence. To make matters worse, Vitoria were hammered 5-1 the last time they met Palmeiras, a result that may still linger in the minds of the players.

Palmeiras, by contrast, have won 65% of their league matches so far and lead the standings with 44 points, underlining their strength. They have also been excellent at both ends of the pitch, with a league goal record of 34 scored and 16 conceded, enough to make any opponent wary. Palmeiras have won three of their last four league games, and forwards such as Mauricio Magalhaes and Paulinho have both made an impact recently. Their attacking unit should be capable of putting sustained pressure on Vitoria's back line. Palmeiras are also unbeaten in their last seven away league matches, winning 71.4% of those games, so all signs point to another victory on the road.