Cuca keeps Santos selection under wraps as Neymar a doubt for Palmeiras tie | OneFootball

Santos have completed preparations for the Copa do Brasil quarter-final first leg at Palmeiras, with Cuca keeping his line-up under wraps and uncertainty lingering over Neymar’s involvement on Wednesday at Nubank Parque.

According to Diario Do Peixe, Neymar is in the squad but did not travel with the main group to São Paulo, he is expected to join team-mates at the hotel on matchday. Cuca has named 25 players for the clássico, with two to be cut before kick-off.

One of the three goalkeepers is usually omitted, plus an outfield player. Neymar could be the one dropped, although the expectation is that he at least makes the bench. The debate is tied chiefly to Nubank Parque’s synthetic surface, which Neymar has criticised and on which he has yet to play.

Lucas Veríssimo returns from injury and will be assessed to determine his minutes. If cleared to start, Cuca could move to three centre-backs and keep Neymar among the substitutes. One possible XI lists Gabriel Brazão, centre-backs Lucas Veríssimo, Willian Arão and Luan Peres, wing-backs Igor Vinícius and Escobar, João Schmidt, Gustavo Henrique and Gabriel Bontempo in midfield, with Barreal and Gabriel Barbosa in attack.

Training time was devoted to defending aerial balls, a frequent Palmeiras route to goal. Final selection is set to remain undisclosed until camp, with Cuca still weighing a back four or three and not revealing whether Neymar starts.

Kick-off is at 21:30 Brasília time on Wednesday. The return is on 2 September at Vila Belmiro. There is no advantage for a level aggregate, if tied after two legs the tie goes to penalties.

Source: Diario Do Peixe

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”