Macará arrive unbeaten to face crisis-hit Santos in Sudamericana last 16 | OneFootball

Macará, second in Ecuador and unbeaten in this year’s Copa Sudamericana in their first campaign, visit Santos at Vila Belmiro on Thursday at 19:00 Brasília time.

According to Globo.com, Santos, owners of an extensive haul of international honours, are trying to emerge from a crisis since relegation in 2023. They reached the last 16 via a play-off and want a first Sudamericana while struggling in the Brasileiro.

The Ambato side trail only Independiente Del Valle with 41 points from 24 matches, including four straight wins. In this Sudamericana they have three wins and four draws from seven.

Macará host continental games at Estadio Bellavista, 2,500 metres above sea level, a factor in their bid for a first ever quarter-final. The return leg is on the 20th.

Their standout is Uruguayan forward Franco Luca Posse, 26, the top scorer with 13 in 31, two in this tournament. The system is designed to draw him into prime scoring positions.

In Vila Belmiro they are likely to sit deep in a compact shape, press for Santos errors and spring with pace, targeting Gabriel Brazão’s goal in key moments.

At home they will also look to use the altitude to tire the Brazilians. Cuca’s Santos aim to make the first leg count and approach the trip with fresher, fitter options.

Goalkeeper Rodrigo Rodríguez has four clean sheets in six matches in the competition to date, another asset for coach Guillermo Óscar Sanguinetti. The squad includes five Argentines and three Uruguayans.

Source: Globo.com

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