Ananias: Santos confident ahead of Paulista U20 final | OneFootball

One of the main highlights of Santos' campaign in the Paulista Under-20 Championship is João Ananias. The defender was decisive in the semifinal against Palmeiras and helped lead Peixe to the final of the State Championship, where the Santos team will face São Paulo.

A fundamental piece of the alvinegro defensive system, Ananias highlighted the evolution of Santos throughout the Paulista Under-20. Peixe has the best attack in the knockout stage, with 19 goals, and eliminated rivals like Corinthians, EC São Bernardo, and Palmeiras to reach the grand final.

“We know we are going through a very good phase, especially in attack, leading in the knockout stage. I believe the team has evolved a lot during the competition, especially in this final stretch. We are confident and focused on continuing the great work we are doing, aiming to take the last step,” said Ananias.

João Ananias in action in the semifinal against Palmeiras (Photo: Reinaldo Campos/ Santos F.C.)

The first game of the Paulista Under-20 Championship final is scheduled for this Sunday at 8:30 PM (Brasília time), at Vila Belmiro. The young defender projected the classic against São Paulo and wants Santos to show its strength at home to gain an advantage in the decision.

“Playing at Vila is always very good because we feel at home, it has a different atmosphere. We will seek to take advantage of our strength at home to achieve a good result and start with an advantage, because we know the quality of the opposing team. So coming out with a favorable score for the second game will be very important for us,” concluded the defender.

Fans interested in attending the game at Vila Belmiro can do so for free. Gates will open at 7:30 PM. As it is a classic, the match will have a single crowd for Peixe.

Who is João Ananias?

João Ananias is one of the main promises from Santos' youth academy. The 18-year-old defender even participated in some training sessions with the professional team this season, still under Cléber Xavier's command. He was listed for three matches with the senior team but did not enter the field. Recently, he renewed his contract until June 2030.

Upcoming Santos Under-20 Matches

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