Santos chase Copa do Brasil turnaround for morale boost and R$ nine million windfall | OneFootball

Santos attempt a Copa do Brasil rescue job tonight, needing three or more at home to keep their semi-final hopes alive after a 3-0 first-leg loss to Palmeiras.

According to Globo.com, the tie carries a CBF prize of R$ nine million for the semi-finalists, money the club sees as vital relief during a crisis. Santos' season priority remains avoiding relegation in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Cuca has named all his main players, including Neymar and Gabigol. A turnaround is also viewed as a chance to repay the supporters who bought every ticket.

In the first leg, Cuca rested key names, with Neymar not travelling and Gabigol on the bench for the first half. Set up reactively, Santos crumbled after conceding and left the Nubank Parque on the wrong end of a heavy score.

Cuca has said in recent days he does not regret that call, pointing to Sunday's away win over Corinthians in the Brasileirão. Even so, he knows another defeat by Palmeiras could unsettle the mood again.

The rivals meet at 21:30 Brasília time at Vila Belmiro, with TV Globo carrying the match.

After this tie, Santos travel to Porto Alegre to face Internacional at the weekend in the league. The following week brings a Copa Sul-Americana two-leg meeting with Atlético-MG.

Source: Globo.com

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