Santos confront poor altitude record ahead of Macará second leg in Ambato | OneFootball

Santos head to Ambato to face Macará on Thursday at 19:00 Brasília time, protecting a 2-1 first-leg lead in the Copa Sudamericana. The tie arrives with the added test of altitude.

According to Diario Do Peixe, since 2000 Santos have played 25 matches at altitude, returning five wins, six draws and 14 defeats, a 28% points return. Ecuador and Bolivia are their most frequent venues in such conditions, with seven games in each country.

Among recurring opponents, there have been four meetings with LDU, yielding one win and three losses. América-MEX produced two draws and one defeat, while The Strongest brought two losses and a draw. Santos also slipped 1-0 at Deportivo Cuenca in 2026.

Ambato sits roughly 2,600 metres above sea level, where lower oxygen availability can hasten fatigue, hinder repeated sprints and affect motor control. Santos began preparations in Brazil, flew to Quito on Tuesday after Sunday’s game against Vasco, then travelled by bus to Ambato.

With a short adaptation window, common strategies include early arrival, simulated-altitude work, greater fluid intake of four to five litres daily, and a carbohydrate and iron-focused diet. Even moderate altitude can increase lactate accumulation and lengthen recovery times.

A draw will send Santos into the quarter-finals, while a Macará win by one that levels the aggregate would force penalties. The winners will face Atlético-MG, who eliminated Red Bull Bragantino, and Santos host Mirassol in the Campeonato Brasileiro on Sunday at 18:30 at Vila Belmiro.

Source: Diario Do Peixe

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