Santos carries 4-1 advantage into Copa Sudamericana second leg vs Universidad Central

Santos will host Universidad Central at Vila Belmiro on Tuesday for the second leg of their 2026 Copa Sudamericana playoff. The Brazilian side entered the match with a commanding 4‑1 lead after winning the first leg in Venezuela, putting them in a strong position to reach the round of 16.

Santos, coached by Cuca, recently drew 2‑2 with Chapecoense in the Brasileirão, with Neymar scoring both goals. The club aims to maintain its solid home record against Venezuelan opponents. Universidad Central, the 2025 Liga FUTVE champions under Daniel Sasso, arrived after a mixed domestic run and a recent 3‑2 loss to Portuguesa, needing a dramatic turnaround to stay in the competition. The winner will face Ecuador’s Macará in the next round.