Preview: Santos vs. Banfield - prediction, team news, lineups

Santos will be aiming to book their place in the Copa Sudamericana knockout rounds when they play host to Banfield on Tuesday.

The Brazilian side currently occupy top spot in Group C, while the visitors are rooted to the bottom of the standings.

Match preview

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After five group games, Santos sit in pole position in the group with 10 points to their name, leaving them two points clear of Union La Calera, who reside in second place.

Santos began the group phase with a 1-0 away defeat to Banfield, but they responded empathically, winning three of their last four Copa Sudamericana games.

Only one team can progress to the last 16, so Santos' position at the top of the group remains a precarious one.

Three points on Tuesday would secure their progression to the knockout stages, but a failure to pick up a victory would present Union La Calera with the chance to clinch top spot.

The hosts will certainly be confident that they can clinch a positive result after avoiding defeat in their last nine home games in all competitions.

The visitors, meanwhile, enter the final group game bottom of the standings, with their five matches yielding just four points.

A narrow victory over Tuesday's opponents on the first matchday got Banfield off to a positive start, but they have failed to build on that win in their last four group games.

The Argentinian side experienced three consecutive Copa Sudamericana defeats without finding the net before playing out a 1-1 draw with Universidad Catolica.

With six points separating them from top spot, Banfield know that qualifying for the last 16 is out of the question, but they will be aiming to end their Copa Sudamericana campaign with a victory.

If they are to clinch three points on Tuesday then the visitors must end a five-game winless run in all competitions.

Team News

Santos are unable to call upon Angelo Borges and Kevin Malthus, with the pair ruled out due to injury issues.

Leo Baptistao, meanwhile, is suspended for the final match of the group stage after receiving a red card as a second-half substitute against Union La Calera.

The hosts could opt for the same lineup that was named for the contest with Union La Calera on matchday five.

As for the visitors, they have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the midweek encounter.

Ian Escobar will return to the squad after being suspended for the draw with Universidad Catolica, and the full-back could replace Franco Quinteros in the starting lineup.

After coming off the bench to score the equaliser on matchday five, Jesus Datolo could be rewarded with a starting place.

Santos possible starting lineup:

Paulo; Auro Jr., Kaiky, Bauermann, Jonatan; Camacho, Sandry; Seco, Goulart, Braga; Leonardo

Banfield possible starting lineup:

Bologna; Coronel, Maciel, Lollo, Escobar; Urzi, Galoppo, Domingo, Datolo; Cuadra, Cruz

We say: Santos 3-1 Banfield

Santos have proven to be a tough team to beat on home turf in recent games, and after winning their previous two home group games, we think that the hosts will avenge their matchday one defeat to Banfield on Tuesday.

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