Cuca waits on Veríssimo as Santos consider three centre-backs for Sudamericana decider | OneFootball

Cuca is weighing a tactical switch for Santos’s Copa Sudamericana quarter-final second leg at Atlético-MG, and is waiting on Lucas Veríssimo’s fitness. Santos won 2-0 in the first leg and could still progress with a one-goal defeat.

According to Globo.com, the centre-back has missed the last three matches with pain in his right ankle. If he is passed fit, Cuca could use a back three with Veríssimo alongside Willian Arão and Luan Peres.

That shape mirrored the first half against Cruzeiro in the league, when Arão, Luan Peres and Igor Vinícius formed the defence. Rodinei and Everton Cebolinha operated as wing-backs, Gustavo Henrique and João Schmit sat in midfield, Gabriel Bontempo and Rollheiser created, and Rony led the line.

The coach is expected to finalise his approach on Tuesday in the last training session. The squad travel to Belo Horizonte on Monday.

Escobar and Gabigol return from domestic suspension after missing the Cruzeiro game. Everton Cebolinha is unavailable in the Sudamericana until the next round, if Santos advance.

Those comebacks also allow a return to a four-man defence. That would mean the Argentine back at left-back, Christian Oliva in midfield, and Rony, Thaciano or Caballero partnering Gabigol up front.

Source: Globo.com

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