Santos vs Cuenca – News and Probable Lineups

Santos will face Deportivo Cuenca in the final Group D match of the Copa Sudamericana at the Estadio Urbano Caldeira on Wednesday morning.

This represents Peixe’s last opportunity to qualify for the knockout rounds. With both Neymar and captain Lucas Verissimo unavailable, they’re confronted with a tough challenge against the Ecuadorian team, which is enjoying a solid unbeaten streak.

Match overview

Neither head coach Cuca nor the Santos fans wish to head into the World Cup break positioned in the relegation zone of the Brasileirao. Given the emotional scars from their last relegation, the present campaign in the Brasileirao is already raising concerns.

Even though Peixe’s primary focus remains on the domestic league, they are now shifting their attention towards the Copa Sudamericana, where they currently sit at the bottom of Group D. To have any chance of reaching the knockout phase, they need to earn all three points against Deportivo Cuenca.

It’s significant to note that Santos is the only Brazilian team yet to secure a victory in CONMEBOL competitions for 2026, having only accumulated four points from a possible 15 in what has been an underwhelming season.

In their most recent match, Santos traveled to Gremio in the Brasileirao last Saturday, and despite two goals from Gabriel Barbosa, they couldn’t stop Gremio’s Carlos Vinicius, who scored twice to lead the Gauchos to a 3-2 comeback triumph.

Currently, Santos finds itself in the relegation zone of the Brasileirao, having gathered a mere 18 points from 17 matches, placing them 17th in the league table.

On the other hand, Deportivo Cuenca approaches the group finale with a comfortable position, boasting good form as they maintain a seven-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, although they have drawn their last two games.

In Ecuador’s LigaPro, Jorge Celico’s squad settled for a 1-1 draw with LDU last Saturday, with contributions from Jorge Ordonez and Rodney Redes, a result that keeps Los Morlacos in the top four of the domestic league.

Within the Copa Sudamericana, Cuenca is on a streak of three successive draws, including a 2-2 tie with Recoleta in the last round on May 20, which eliminated their chances for direct qualification to the round of 16.

Currently, the Ecuadorian club is positioned second in Group D with six points from five games, one point ahead of third-placed Recoleta, indicating that a draw in Baixada Santista could suffice for a playoff position, provided results in the other group fixture are favorable.

Despite their struggles, Santos can still pose a significant threat, which could result in an open contest, while Cuenca has demonstrated their ability as an away team, adept at capitalizing on their opponents’ errors.

Team News

The most notable absence for Santos in this crucial home fixture is Neymar, who has been sidelined with a calf muscle injury in his right leg sustained against Coritiba on May 17, and he is expected to be out until the Brazilian national team convenes for the World Cup.

Additionally, the club captain Verissimo will miss out due to suspension following his third yellow card of the season received against San Lorenzo in the last match. Rollheiser, Thaciano, Joao Schmitdt, and Gabriel Menino are also recovering from injuries.

Conversely, Cuenca’s Argentine coach Jorge Celico has no confirmed absences and will be boosted by the return of defender Patricio Boolsen, who was suspended for the previous encounter against Recoleta.

It is anticipated that the Ecuadorian side will deploy a lineup similar to the one that triumphed over Santos in the opening round back in April, with the primary competition for a spot in the attack likely between Ordonez and 31-year-old Nicolas Leguizamon.

Santos probable starting XI:

coat of arms; Vinicius, Frias, Peres, Escobar; Arao, Henriques, Miguelito; Bontempo, Barreal Barbosa

Deportivo Cuenca probable starting XI:

Ferrero; Mosquera, Boolsen, Postel, Arboleda; Maccari, Chacon, Garcia, Vega, Gonzalez; Ordonez

As all four teams in Group D remain in pursuit of qualification, fans can expect an exciting match in Baixada Santista. Santos is clearly not in optimal form and will face a tough path to qualification, but with several key players absent, the challenge becomes even steeper.

For Deportivo Cuenca, a draw may suffice, allowing them to approach the game with a more favorable mindset. Even without a particularly strong attack in the Copa Sudamericana, they have been competitive in forward play, and it seems plausible that they could secure at least a point in this encounter.