Santos vs San Lorenzo: Copa Sudamericana Clash Amid Injury Concerns and Group Survival Pressure Santos will face San Lorenzo in matchday five of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday, with the Brazilian side needing a win to keep their hopes of topping Group D alive. The teams previously met on matchday three, ending in a 1-1 draw, and a closely contested encounter is expected again. Santos, however, faces significant injury challenges, with Neymar, recently called up for the 2026 World Cup by Carlo Ancelotti, a major doubt due to a right calf injury sustained against Coritiba. The match will take place at Vila Belmiro, where Santos is likely to be without key players, including Neymar. In their first meeting, Santos fell behind in Buenos Aires but leveled before halftime. Cuello opened the scoring in the 27th minute, and Gabriel Barbosa (Gabigol) equalized five minutes later. Santos, rooted to the bottom of Group D with just three points from four games, must secure a victory to avoid elimination. A win could elevate them to second or even first place, depending on goal difference and other results. Domestically, Santos’ struggles continue. They suffered a 3-0 defeat to Coritiba, a match marred by controversy involving Neymar. The Brazilian star was mistakenly substituted after a fourth official error, with Gonzalo Escobar’s number displayed instead of Neymar’s. This incident left Santos 16th in the Brasileiro on 18 points, level with Corinthians, who occupy the relegation zone. Neymar’s World Cup call-up marked a pivotal moment. Ancelotti announced the decision at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, attended by over 1,200 guests, including former players, executives, and influencers. This decision ended a prolonged debate over Brazil’s squad selection.#carlo_ancelotti #neymar #santos #copa_sudamericana #san_lorenzo
Deportivo Cuenca, Rival de Santos en la Copa Sudamericana Santos inicia su participación en la Copa Sudamericana el miércoles 8 de abril como visitante ante Deportivo Cuenca en Ecuador. Este enfrentamiento será el primer partido oficial entre ambos clubes en más de cinco décadas de historia del equipo ecuatoriano. El partido forma parte de la fase de grupos del torneo, en el Grupo D, con el partido de vuelta programado para el 26 de mayo en Vila Belmiro, Brasil. Deportivo Cuenca, fundado el 24 de marzo de 1971, tiene su sede en la ciudad de Cuenca y juega en el Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar, un recinto con capacidad para aproximadamente 22.000 personas. El club es conocido por sus apodos "Expresso Austral" y "Morlacos". Desde su creación, el equipo mostró un crecimiento rápido, logrando ascender a la máxima categoría del fútbol ecuatoriano poco más de un mes después de su fundación. En 1972, alcanzó el primer ascenso a la primera división, y posteriormente se consagró subcampeón en 1975 y 1976. La temporada más destacada del club llegó en 2004, cuando ganó su único título nacional. El campeonato se consolidó con una victoria por 3-2 como visitante frente a Aucas, bajo la dirección del técnico argentino Julio Asad. Esta campaña rompió la hegemonía de los equipos de Quito y Guayaquil, que históricamente dominaban el fútbol ecuatoriano. Actualmente, Deportivo Cuenca es dirigido por otro argentino, Jorge Célico, quien ha llevado al equipo en una etapa caracterizada por la organización y la competitividad. Sin embargo, el club ha enfrentado dificultades en el ataque durante el inicio de esta temporada, con un bajo rendimiento en la generación de goles, especialmente contra defensas cerradas.#santos #conmebol #estadio_alejandro_serrano_aguilar #deportivo_cuenca #copa_sudamericana
Deportivo Cuenca Faces Santos in Copa Sudamericana Clash - ESPN Deportivo Cuenca will host Santos in the first round of group stage matches of the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday, April 8, at the Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar. The match will be broadcast live on Disney+ in Chile, Uruguay, and Peru, with kickoff times set at 19:00 (Argentina, Uruguay), 18:00 (Chile), and 17:00 (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru). This encounter holds significant weight for both teams, as Deportivo Cuenca enters the competition having advanced from the preliminary round by defeating Libertad de Loja. The Ecuadorian side aims to capitalize on their home advantage to start the tournament strongly, while Santos, a top-tier club in Brazilian football, seeks to assert its dominance in international competition. The match represents a crucial opportunity for Santos to secure a strong position in the group, given its reputation as a historic contender in South American football. Key players to watch for Deportivo Cuenca include forward Facundo Ferrero, who will be a focal point in attack, alongside defenders Yeltzin Enrique and Santiago Postel. Midfielders Edison Vega, David González, and Luca Mancinelli will play pivotal roles in controlling the game, while Romario Ibarra, Nicolás Leguizamón, and Matías Klimowicz form the attacking trio. For Santos, goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao will be vital in maintaining a clean sheet, with defenders Igor Vinicius and Gonzalo Escobar expected to provide stability. Midfielders Christian Oliva and Gabriel Merino will support the attack, which features Brazilian stars Rony, Lautaro Díaz, and the legendary Neymar. Both teams arrive at the match with contrasting recent performances.#santos #disney #deportivo_cuenca #copa_sudamericana #estadio_alejandro_serrano_aguilar
