📋 Santos named for first leg of Copa Sul-Americana last-16 play-offs

Santos return to action this Tuesday (21) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), when they visit Universidad Central in Venezuela for the first leg of the Conmebol Sudamericana 2026 round-of-16 playoffs.

The return leg is scheduled for next Tuesday (28) at Vila Belmiro, at the same time.

Whoever advances will face Macará of Ecuador in the tournament’s round of 16.

Compared to the last match (a 2-1 loss to Botafogo in the Brasileirão), coach Cuca opted to bring in Gabriel Menino, João Ananias, Christian Oliva, and Gabriel Bontempo in place of Igor Vinícius, Luan Peres, Gustavo Henrique, and Willian Arão, respectively, for Peixe.

Going through a serious financial crisis, including image rights payments that have been overdue for several months, Santos still cannot count on Neymar, who is continuing his physical recovery after taking part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

📋 See Santos’ lineup

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.