Zé Rafael out, Arão and Bontempo secure Santos starting spots | OneFootball

With intense competition in the midfield, coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda has yet to define the starting players for Santos. Gabriel Bontempo, Willian Arão, and Zé Rafael are competing for two spots in the starting lineup. However, with the physical problems of the ‘Trem’, it is likely that the Menino da Vila and the former Flamengo player will establish themselves as starters for the Alvinegro Praiano.

At the start of the season, Juan Pablo Vojvoda rotated the three midfielders, giving them similar playing time. At a certain point in the Campeonato Paulista, Zé Rafael began to take over the position. However, he got injured at the beginning of February and ended up returning to the bench.

Without the former Palmeiras midfielder, Gabriel Bontempo, who was on the bench, began to get more opportunities. At the same time, Willian Arão was establishing himself as a starter, despite also having suffered an injury at the start of the year.

With all three players available to Vojvoda, Gabriel Bontempo and Willian Arão remained starters, but Zé Rafael always came on in the final stretch of matches. Now, with the ‘Trem’ injured, Arão and Bontempo will reach their fifth start in six games.

And the other options?

The player who lost prestige in Juan Pablo Vojvoda’s rotation was Gabriel Menino. The former Palmeiras midfielder started the first matches of the year, but in the last three he always came off the bench.

Overall, the competition in Santos’ midfield remains strong, even though Arão and Bontempo are standing out. Gabriel Menino has played 10 games, followed by Arão and Zé Rafael with eight, and Bontempo with seven.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.