Cuca says anything can happen as Santos draw Palmeiras in Copa do Brasil | OneFootball

Head coach Cuca has addressed Santos’s Copa do Brasil draw with Palmeiras, saying the clássico could go either way in the quarter-finals.

According to Diario Do Peixe, the first leg is on 26 August at Nubank Parque and the return on 2 September at Vila Belmiro. Both ties are Wednesday 21:30 kick-offs.

Cuca welcomed a draw full of derbies across the country and argued that league position does not decide knockouts. He noted Santos are in the relegation zone and Palmeiras lead, yet maintained they can still progress. He added they will test themselves away and at home soon, and said he has strong belief in the squad.

Santos entered this year’s competition in the fifth phase and knocked out Coritiba, drawing 0-0 at Vila Belmiro then winning 2-0 at Couto Pereira. In the round of 16 they edged Remo after a 0-0 home draw and a 1-0 win at the Mangueirão.

Across four matches they have two wins and two draws, scoring three and yet to concede, an unbeaten run into the last eight.

If they advance, Santos will face the winner of Vasco v Vitória in the semi-finals. The semis are set for 1 and 8 November, with R$ 9 million awarded for reaching that stage. Santos have earned R$ 9 million in prize money so far.

Source: Diario Do Peixe

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