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It is impossible to make an analysis of Santos’ victory over Atlético-MG this Wednesday without mentioning the absences. The starters Lucas Veríssimo, Luan Peres, Alison, Kaio Jorge, Raniel and Pará were not available to train Cuca. The fish was patched in Vila Belmiro.
Even so, the team led by coach Cuca managed to beat the strong Atlético-MG by 3 to 1 and reach 14 points in the classification of the Brazilian Championship, in sixth place. More than that: the Fish, despite some initial difficulties, managed to nullify the forces of the Rooster.
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It should be remembered, of course, that Santos played with one more from minute 15 of the first half: goalkeeper Rafael was sent off after a hard foul on Marinho on a counterattack.
Coach Cuca sent a completely patched line-up to the field: João Paulo, Madson, Jobson, Alex and Felipe Jonatan; Diego Pituca, Sánchez and Arthur Gomes; Lucas Braga, Marinho and Soteldo.
Despite several absences, Santos started the game against Atlético-MG with only one recurring problem. Defensive midfielder Jobson, tired of losing dangerous balls with wrong passes.
Accustomed to his passes deep and between the lines to break the opponent’s scoreboard, Jobson tried to repeat his qualities on defense. However, under pressure from the Atlético-MG attackers, the improvised defensive midfielder abused crucial errors.
It was up to João Paulo, in a more than inspired night, to make defenses almost impossible to prevent Atlético-MG from opening the scoring. He just couldn’t avoid the tie after Jobson made another mistake. It cannot be repeated.
João Paulo stood out again on Wednesday – Photo: Ivan Storti / Santos FC
Full of absences, Santos took the field against Atlético-MG with faster players in the offensive sector. Defensive midfielder Alison gave way to offensive midfielder Arthur Gomes; Center forward Kaio Jorge was replaced by Lucas Braga.
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Thus, Santos took advantage of the space left by Atlético-MG – who plays and lets play – to generate opportunities. Soteldo immediately left Marinho in good condition inside Galo’s area, but the defense kept the danger away.
Arthur Gomes opened the scoring at Vila Belmiro – Photo: Ivan Storti / Santos FC
It was just a sample of what Santos was preparing for the rest of the game. Aware of the difficulties and even the superiority of his rival, Peixe did the basics: he scored well and took advantage of the speed of his attackers to create opportunities, with Soteldo on the left, Lucas Braga on the right and Marinho in the center.
It was precisely in plays of speed or pressure at the exit of the Atlético-MG ball that Santos created the main offensive chances, opened the scoring, went ahead again after the Atlético-MG draw and extended the advantage in the second half.
Accustomed to playing on the right wing, Marinho was selected by coach Cuca almost as a center forward against Atlético-MG. Without Kaio Jorge and Raniel, owner and reserve of the position, the coach chose to leave Lucas Braga open to centralize the jersey 11.
And it worked. With a field to run and space to create opportunities, especially after goalkeeper Rafael was sent off, Marinho was participative throughout the 90 minutes, not only from the right wing.
Marinho celebrates goal against Atlético-MG – Photo: Ivan Storti / Santos FC
As he is not a center forward, Marinho was not stuck between the Atlético-MG defenders. Santos’ 11 jersey floated to both sides of the field, reaching for the ball with his socks and opening up plenty of space for his teammates, especially for Madson and Lucas Braga’s uphill runs down the right.
This Wednesday’s “forward” scored two goals to confirm Santos’ victory and show that he can be more than a forward.
Meanwhile, on the right, Lucas Braga was tasked with going back and forth from attack to defense to help Madson score his opponents. Thus, Santos had superiority in defense when he lost the ball.
What also worked, despite Sánchez’s below-average performance, was Santos’s midfield formation. Despite not having a marker like Alison, sent off against Ceará, Peixe managed to cancel the Atlético-MG creation sector with possession of the ball and movement.
Diego Pituca, Sánchez and Arthur Gomes managed, without the need for fouls or individual markings, to be superior to their position opponents. The movement of the Santos trio of socks, and not of shuttlecocks, made Atlético-MG have difficulties scoring and canceling counterattacks.
Diego Pituca, by the way, was the best among the midfielders. Further back and close to the defense, the midfielder made perhaps his best game in 2020. He gave peace of mind at the start of the game and managed to do well the function of linking defense with attack.
