Pre-Match Report: Cruzeiro x Santos

Overview

Tomorrow Santos will face Cruzeiro away from home 19th round of the Brasileirão. This is the crucial halfway point of the season.

The referee is Marcelo de Lima Henrique, with his assistants being Vagner de Almeida Santos and Jackson L. Massara do Santos. They are all from Rio de Janeiro.

Form

Santos’ last game was a disappointing draw against Avaí at home, where they threw away a two goal lead. This inconsistently has plagued Santos all season and hopefully they move away from it. Santos lies in 12th place on 24 points, safely nestled in the Copa Sudamericana spots but far from the targeted spots for the Copa Libertadores. Cruzeiro’s last game was a 3x1 win away to Coritiba. The Belo Horizonte club are a shadow of their former selves earlier in the Brasileirão. After a run of poor form they lie in 14th place on 20 points.

This match seems to be a throw up. Cruzeiro aren’t notoriously good at home. Their record stands at 4 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses. Santos’ away record stands at 3 for each category. Whoever seizes the initiative in this match will instill the confidence to win.

When asked for his take on the game, Coach Vanderlei luxemburgo had the following to say.

“In previous rounds we had good results away from home but we know that Cruzeiro is a big team with a quality squad. This will be a complicated game, but we confident of getting a result.”

Team News

Robson is returns from suspension for the game, and Triguinho has returned from injury. New signing; George Lucas, is now available for selection and has been called up to the squad. Another new signing - Emerson - is not ready for selection as he continues to regain his full fitness. Fabio Costa, Adailton, and Maikon Leite are still unavailable as a result of injury.

According to the official Santos website the 20 man squad for the match is as follows:

Goleiros: Felipe (goleiro), Douglas (goleiro)

Zagueiros: André Astorga, Domingos, Eli Sabiá, Fabão

Laterais: Léo, Triguinho, Pará, George Lucas

Volantes: Germano, Rodrigo Mancha, Rodrigo Souto,

Meias: Robson, Madson, Paulo Henrique Lima

Atacantes: Felipe Azevedo, Kleber Pereira, Neymar, Tiago Luis

On another note

If Rodrigo Souto plays tomorrow the game will be his 150th for this illustrious club. Congratulations to a loyal servant of Santos Futebol Club. A proper post will be made later on the fully commemorate this achievement.