Regular Season - 23 · 16 August 2026, 19:00 UTC

Vasco da Gama vs Santos Serie A prediction

Rio de Janeiro

The model makes it 72% Vasco da Gama, 14% draw, 14% Santos — fair odds of 1.39, 7.14 and 7.14. Fair odds are simply 100 ÷ the probability; they are the model's own number, not a bookmaker's price.

Most likely scoreline: 3-1 (7%).

Expected goals: Vasco da Gama 3.39, Santos 1.53.

Both teams to score: 76%. Over 2.5 goals: 87%, under 2.5: 13%.

Model confidence: High.

Model insights

76%
Both teams to score
87%
Over 2.5 goals
13%
Under 2.5 goals
Most likely scorelines3-1 7%2-1 6%4-1 6%

Form going into this match

Vasco da Gama

  • D1-1Mirassol25 July 2026
  • L0-1away to Vitoria16 July 2026
  • L0-1Atletico Mineiro31 May 2026
  • L0-3RB Bragantino24 May 2026
  • L1-4away to Internacional16 May 2026

Santos

  • D2-2Chapecoense25 July 2026
  • L1-2away to Botafogo16 July 2026
  • W3-1Vitoria30 May 2026
  • L2-3away to Gremio23 May 2026
  • L0-3Coritiba17 May 2026

Up to 5 matches before kick-off, most recent first. The model works from each side's rolling expected-goals ratings rather than from these results directly, so read them as context.

Serie A table

#TeamPWDLGFGAGDPts
19Vasco da Gama205692331-821
16Santos205782933-422

Where the two sides stand. Full tables

Leading scorers

Vasco da Gama

No league goals recorded yet.

Santos

  • Gabriel Barbosa7 goals2 assists

Top 3 by league goals this season. Player availability is not part of the model — injuries and suspensions are a planned improvement.

The two sides

Vasco da Gama carry a model rating of 6.8 against 6.59 for Santos. The scale is anchored so that an average side in one of Europe's big five leagues sits at 6.85, and it is adjusted for the strength of each team's league, so the two numbers are comparable even across borders.

Recent form (most recent last): Vasco da Gama L-L-L-L-D; Santos L-L-W-L-D.

The model expects goals

Under the hood the model expects 3.39 goals for Vasco da Gama and 1.53 for Santos. Those two numbers, not the scoreline, are what the model actually estimates; everything else is derived from them.

Vasco da Gama rate 1.03 in attack and 1.14 in defence, where 1 is league average and a lower defensive number is better; Santos rate 0.96 and 1.74.

That points to 87% for over two and a half goals and 76% for both teams to score.

The three most likely scorelines are 3-1 (7%), 2-1 (6%), 4-1 (6%).

Where the model differs from the table

The table and the model disagree here: the standings favour Santos, while our numbers lean the other way. The model weights recent expected goals rather than results already banked, so it moves before the table does.

How this was produced

Publicly tracked record so far: 288 correct results out of 598 settled predictions (48%), with 58 exact scorelines (10%). That log is updated automatically after every match and is never edited.

Full method: how the model works.

Statistical estimate, not betting advice This prediction is generated from a statistical model for entertainment and informational purposes only. It does not guarantee any outcome and should not be used as the basis for placing a bet.

Team comparison

Bars show each side's share of the two-team total, based on the model's attack/defence ratings and expected goals for this fixture.

Why the model favours this side

The model gives Vasco da Gama the highest probability at 72%, based on each side's rolling attack and defence ratings estimated from recent match data. The model projects 3.39 expected goals for Vasco da Gama against 1.53 for Santos. Vasco da Gama's attack/defence rating is 1.03/1.14 versus the league average (1.00 = average), compared with 0.96/1.74 for Santos.