Santos is in the midst of a fierce battle in the quarterfinals of the Barclays Premier League, as they face off against Balakantinu Red Bulls in a neutral venue. Santos is no longer the lion they used to be. Last season, they were relegated for the first time in their 100-year history. However, they always seem to be lucky to come back from the relegation crisis against the newborn Red Bull Paracantinos. This Thursday morning at 7.30am, the battle of the bulge will take place.
Looking back, the late King Pele and Brazilian legend Nimar once wrote glory here, and Santos won the championship eight times, becoming the old dominant team in the Barclays Premier League. However, in recent years, their performance has been declining. Last season, they ranked 17th in the Barclays Premier League, their first relegation in 111 years. Pele's spirit may be confused about the future of this team. Stars have left the club in droves, including young striker Marcos Leonardo, who joined Benfica at the age of 20. Although Santos topped Group A of the Babolitano League group stage, it was a hard-fought victory against Portuguesa in the last eight as they exchanged 12-yard shots to qualify.
Meanwhile, Red Bull Paracantinos ranked sixth in the league last season and made it to the round of 16 in the Copa Sudamericana, a feat not to be underestimated. They finished first in Group C of the Babolink League group stage with six wins, three draws and three losses, and beat Inter Rimela 3-0 in the Round of 8, making their way to the top of the table a very smooth one. Looking back at the last three head-to-head meetings between the two sides, Red Bull Paracantinos have won all of them, including a 1-0 victory over Santos last month to show their strength. A draw is cheaply priced for today's match, so it looks like this victory will belong to the crowd.
