Santos may face Vitória without a holding midfielder, Vojvoda’s options | OneFootball

Santos is preparing to face Vitória in a match valid for the 29th round of the Brazilian Championship. Coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda might field the team without a primary defensive midfielder.

João Schmidt, the starter in this role under the Argentine coach, is out. The midfielder is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Immediate backup, Tomás Rincón, is in transition after suffering a muscle edema in his left calf. He has not yet trained with the squad and, therefore, is likely to be out.

The third option would be Willian Arão. The midfielder, however, still has few minutes on the field for the Alvinegro Praiano. He suffered a calf injury and was out for almost three months. The former Flamengo player returned in the 3-1 victory over Corinthians, entering towards the end.

In this scenario, there is a strong possibility that Santos will play without a primary defensive midfielder against Vitória. Gabriel Bontempo and Victor Hugo emerge as alternatives.

Both play in midfield but have more offensive characteristics. Both, in fact, also recently recovered from injury and returned to play against Corinthians. The duo entered midway through the second half.

If Vojvoda opts for one of the two, the tendency is for Zé Rafael to play a bit more defensively. The number 6 has been playing as a second midfielder in recent games. It was in this role that he stood out against Timão. However, it won't be new if he needs to be the defensive man. The 32-year-old player has already performed this function at other clubs.

The change in midfield could also result in an alteration on the right flank. With a more open midfield, Mayke could return as a starter. This is because he has more defensive characteristics compared to Igor Vinícius, who started against Ceará and Corinthians.

Thus, a possible lineup is: Gabriel Brazão; Mayke, Adonis Frías, Luan Peres, and Escobar; Zé Rafael, Victor Hugo (Bontempo), Barreal, and Rollheiser; Guilherme and Lautaro Díaz.

Santos' Position in the Standings

Santos is in 16th place, with 31 points, three more than Vitória, which opens the relegation zone.

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