Vila Belmiro to host Santos’ first international home game in three years | OneFootball

Vila Belmiro will host Santos’ first international game in three years when Paraguay’s Recoleta visit on Tuesday at 21:30 Brasília time in the Copa Sudamericana group stage. According to Diario Do Peixe, it ends a barren spell of continental action before home fans.

Their last international home match was on 29 June 2023, a 0-0 draw with Bolivia’s Blooming in the final group round, with both teams already out.

In stoppage time VAR prompted a penalty award, but Lucas Lima struck the post and the stalemate remained.

Only about 2,800 paid in, restricted by an STJD sanction after clássico incidents, and boos met the final whistle.

It was Paulo Turra’s first at Vila Belmiro after replacing Odair Hellmann days earlier amid efforts to steady the team.

Off the pitch, Soteldo came off the bench and won the foul for that penalty. He then refused a post-match reserves activity in the dressing room and left training early the next day without reporting any issue.

Days later he was dropped for indiscipline with board backing, shortly after Santos had bought him from Tigres for about four million dollars, roughly R$20 million at the time.

He trained apart and missed important Brasileiro matches, then was reintegrated months later under Diego Aguirre as the team fought relegation.

Santos did not feature in Conmebol competitions again until this year’s Sudamericana, and now return to international action at Vila Belmiro.

Source: Diario Do Peixe