With Neymar in doubt, Santos visit San Lorenzo in the Copa Sudamericana | OneFootball

After the win over Platense, Gustavo Álvarez’s side is looking to solidify its lead in Group D. The Brazilian star is doubtful due to a viral illness, while the Azulgrana squad sends a warning: «If we have to go in hard, we will».

San Lorenzo heads into the international clash in high spirits after a 1-0 win over Platense in Vicente López thanks to a goal from Rodrigo Auzmendi. This victory allows the Boedo team to focus fully on the third matchday of the Copa Sudamericana, where it leads Group D with four points. The mood in the dressing room is full of excitement; the players celebrated the latest success to the chant of «we want the cup», making it clear that the continental objective is the absolute priority.

The big question of the day is whether Neymar will play. The Peixe idol did not take part in the last training session due to a viral illness, setting off alarm bells in the Brazilian side just hours before the match. Despite the uncertainty, San Lorenzo are not thinking about individual names: «The club is bigger than any player. We have to win for ourselves», Auzmendi said firmly. For his part, Matías Reali highlighted the opponent’s quality, but stressed that the group is up to the challenge.

The fans are playing their part too. Before the match, respect for the global star mixes with local football folklore: «He’s phenomenal, but at home, dad is dad», some supporters said, promising a hostile but respectful reception for the Brazilian. The clash, which will kick off this Tuesday at 7:00 PM, is vital for the Ciclón’s hopes of firmly settling into the standings and moving closer to qualification for the next round.

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