Santos aims to recover from an opening-round defeat when they face Deportivo Recoleta in the 2026 Copa Sudamericana. The match is set to take place at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium on Wednesday morning. Santos is coming off a 1-0 loss to Deportivo Cuenca, while Recoleta made a commendable debut in the competition with a 1-1 draw against San Lorenzo in Asuncion.
Match Preview
Santos finds itself in a challenging position as they juggle the demands of both the Brasileirao Serie A and the Copa Sudamericana. They currently sit 14th in the league table, having secured only 13 points from 11 matches. This places them just five points above the relegation zone.
In their recent games, Santos managed a goalless draw against Cruzeiro and suffered a 3-1 defeat to Flamengo. They did experience a brief resurgence with a 2-0 victory over Remo and a narrow 1-0 win over Atletico Mineiro, thanks to a goal from Moises.
However, their performance in the Copa Sudamericana was disappointing, highlighted by a lack of offensive threat, despite taking numerous shots in their loss to Deportivo Cuenca.
Deportivo Recoleta’s Journey
Deportivo Recoleta, established in Asuncion in 1931, is featuring in its first-ever Copa Sudamericana season. The team showcased its potential in their opening match, securing a draw against a strong San Lorenzo team, which illustrates their ability to challenge top-tier opponents.
Before facing Santos, Recoleta played three days earlier in the Paraguayan Apertura, where they lost 2-1 to Sportivo Luqueno. This recent match may impact their performance due to potential fatigue.
Team News
- Santos: Vinicius Lira is sidelined with a torn knee ligament, and Gabriel Menino is out due to a thigh injury. Miguelito is under evaluation for a muscle issue.
- Returning Players: Neymar and Gabigol have rejoined the squad after recent injuries, enhancing Santos’ attacking options.
- Deportivo Recoleta: The lineup is expected to remain unchanged from their draw against San Lorenzo.
- Key Threats: Allan Wlk and veteran Pablo Zeballos are expected to spearhead Recoleta’s attack.
Predicted Lineups
Santos Possible Starting XI
- Brazao
- Vinicius
- Verissimo
- Peres
- Escobar
- Arao
- Bontempo
- Neymar
- Oliva
- Rony
- Gabigol
Deportivo Recoleta Possible Starting XI
- Mongelos
- Villalba
- Wiechniak
- Balbuena
- Maldonado
- Comas
- Maiz
- Quintana
- Franco
- Maggi
- Ruiz
As Santos prepares to host Deportivo Recoleta, they are expected to leverage their home advantage and aim to secure a convincing victory. The experience and talent of players like Neymar and Gabigol could play a pivotal role in turning their campaign around.
