Analysis: Santos improve, but lack creativity in defeat | OneFootball

Even with the 3-1 loss to Flamengo, Santos looked more organized on the field this Sunday. In Cuca’s third match in charge, Peixe showed tactical improvement but sacrificed creativity for a more solid defensive system, which ended up suffering due to poor performances from Santos’ full-backs.

To face Rubro-Negro, Cuca opted for a more defensive lineup, with center-back Zé Ivaldo filling in at right-back, tucking in as a third center-back at times, and Gabriel Bontempo occupying the right flank. In midfield, Gustavo Henrique and Oliva were selected, with Barreal playing in a freer role ahead of them and Thaciano and Lautaro Díaz up front.

The lineup brought intensity and energy to a strong press, preventing Flamengo from creating chances through their usual one-twos and short passing combinations. Even so, the Rio side found a way through the wings, as Zé Ivaldo and Escobar were not at their best. So much so that, in the seventh minute, Arrascaeta had the first good headed chance from a Varela cross on the right, a move that Flamengo used repeatedly.

Despite their vulnerability out wide, Santos defended well in the first half but struggled to build attacking moves because of a lineup more focused on intensity, without many technically refined or speedy players, resulting in a team that created very little until the substitutions.

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In the second half, Lautaro Díaz scored a brilliant goal on the counterattack to put Santos ahead. However, Flamengo began to exploit Santos’ flanks even more, and all three Flamengo goals came from there. The first came from a cross from the left by Carrascal to Pedro, who beat Zé Ivaldo to score.

The penalty for the second goal was conceded by Escobar, who pulled Arrascaeta after a cross came in from the right side. Finally, the third goal came from Plata, who moved in from the right toward the middle to set up Paquetá.

The match showed that, despite a thin squad, Santos has the ability to compete and showed tactical improvement, which had been one of the problems for Vojvoda’s team. However, they need to find a way to alternate between a compact, intense team in defensive moments, as they showed this Sunday, and a creative, quick attacking side, something that was lacking, largely because of the absences of Neymar and Rony.

Next match

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