Preview: Santos vs Deportivo Recoleta – prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking to bounce again from a 1-0 opening-day loss in opposition to Deportivo Cuenca, Santos play host to Deportivo Recoleta on the Urbano Caldeira Stadium of their second Group D fixture of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana on Wendesday morning.

The guests, who marked their debut within the competitors with a powerful 1–1 draw in opposition to San Lorenzo in Asuncion final week, arrive in Santos seeking to construct on that momentum, which may signify an actual check for the house facet.

Match preview

Splitting focus between Brasileirao Serie A and the Copa Sudamericana, Santos have endured a topsy-turvy begin to the 2026 marketing campaign, with the Vila Belmiro outfit sitting in 14th within the league with 13 factors from 11 matches, simply 5 factors above the relegation zone.

In their most up-to-date 4 Brasileirao video games, Cuca’s males performed out a goalless draw in opposition to Cruzeiro and a 3-1 defeat to Flamengo on both facet of a 2-0 victory over Remo on April 2, earlier than a second-half strike from Moises impressed a 1-0 win over Atletico Mineiro final Saturday.

On the continental scene, Peixe are favourites within the Copa Sudamericana Group D that features San Lorenzo, Deportivo Cuenca and Recoleta Football Club, however a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Deportivo Cuenca on opening day has seen them come underneath speedy strain.

Despite taking 19 pictures on the Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar, Santos managed simply 4 heading in the right direction, exposing what had been a recurring lack of sting in assault, with Lucas Mancinelli breaking the impasse within the sixtieth minute handy the hosts all three factors.

Founded in Asuncion again in 1931, Deportivo Recoleta have loved a historic marketing campaign, with the Paraguayan outfit making their first-ever look on the continental scene.

Recoleta made their mark of their Sudamericana opener final Wednesday, once they held their very own to see out a 1-1 draw against San Lorenzo, highlighting their skill to compete in opposition to the highest sides throughout the continent.

The stalemate in opposition to San Lorenzo marked one other optimistic consequence on dwelling turf for Jorge Gonzalez‘s males, who had gained their earlier two league matches on the Estadio Roque Battilana, beating Rubio Nu 1-0 on March 27 earlier than claiming a 4-2 victory over Sportivo San Lorenzo within the Paraguayan Apertura.

Next up is the strict problem of dealing with a Santos facet seeking to bounce again from their opening-day consequence, however Recoleta will journey to Vila Belmiro boosted with confidence from current optimistic outcomes as they appear to select up one other historic consequence and strengthen their place in Group D.

Santos Copa Sudamericana type:

Santos type (all competitions):

Deportivo Recoleta Copa Sudamericana type:

Deportivo Recoleta type (all competitions):

Team News

© Iconsport / SUSA

Santos must cope with out the companies of Vinicius Lira, who’s recuperating from a torn knee ligament, whereas Gabriel Menino has been dominated out by a thigh damage.

Miguelito is being assessed after a current muscle drawback, whereas the attacking duo of Neymar and Gabigol supply optimistic information following their return to motion in opposition to Atletico Mineiro.

Tomas Rincon can also be obtainable for choice, having missed the opener in opposition to Deportivo Cuenca attributable to visa points, alongside Barreal, who served a league suspension on the weekend.

As for Recoleta, we count on an unchanged facet from the sport in opposition to San Lorenzo I final week, with Allan Wlk posing the best menace in assault, alongside Pablo Zeballos, who provides expertise after popping out of retirement this season.

However, questions are being raised concerning the guests’ skill to compete on the highest degree on Wednesday attributable to fatigue and stress ranges, having featured within the Paraguayan Apertura simply three days in the past, once they fell to a 2-1 loss in opposition to Sportivo Luqueno.

Santos potential beginning lineup:

Brazao; Vinicius, Verissimo, Peres, Escobar; Arao, Bontempo, Neymar; Oliva, Rony, Gabigo

Deportivo Recoleta potential beginning lineup:

Mongelos; Villalba, Wiechniak, Balbuena, Maldonado; Comas, Maiz, Quintana, Franco; Maggi, Ruiz

We say: Santos 3-0 Deportivo Recoleta

Santos will likely be determined to get their Sudamericana marketing campaign off and working after a disappointing opening-day consequence, and they are going to be backing themselves to get the consequence in opposition to an inexperienced Recoleta facet in entrance of their dwelling supporters.

Deportivo Recoleta confirmed resilience in opposition to San Lorenzo final week, however given the gulf in high quality and expertise between the 2 groups, we see them falling in opposition to a stacked Santos facet constructed to compete on the highest degree with stars like Neymar and Gabigol.

For information evaluation of the probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.