Brazão to start for Santos against Deportivo Cuenca despite back pain | OneFootball

Gabriel Brazão will start for Santos against Ecuadorian side Deportivo Cuenca on Tuesday at 21:30 at Vila Belmiro in the Copa Sul-Americana, despite lower-back pain. According to Globo.com, he passed mobility tests and will play through the discomfort.

He has felt the issue for a few days and was kept out of the final tactical session before the game, when Diógenes stepped in.

Santos can no longer finish top of the group, but a win would leave them well placed to reach the play-offs. Any other result would eliminate the team. After Cuenca, they face Vitória in the Brasileirão at the weekend.

Head coach Cuca will be without centre-back Lucas Veríssimo, suspended after his third yellow. Forward Álvaro Barreal returns to the starting line-up after missing the defeat to Grêmio.

Midfielder Christian Oliva trained without restrictions on Monday and will be in the squad. The likely change among the starters is Benjamín Rollheiser after recovering from muscle pain.

Neymar is sidelined with oedema in his right calf. Called up for the World Cup with Brazil and due to report on 27 May, he has been limited to indoor physiotherapy and gym work. He will not play again for Santos this semester, and is expected back after the tournament in the United States.

Source: Globo.com