Lucas Arcanjo ruled out as Santos Vs Vitória reaches Vila Belmiro

Lucas Arcanjo will miss santos vs vitória at Vila Belmiro after being ruled out with the flu, forcing Vitória into a goalkeeper change for Saturday’s 20h de Brasília match in the 18th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. The move lands at a bad time for a club still chasing its first away win in the Brasileirão.

Vila Belmiro with Gabriel

Gabriel is expected to take Arcanjo’s place, giving Vitória a new starter behind a back line already dealing with changes. Cacá is suspended and expected to be replaced by Caíque Gonçalves, while Nathan Mendes is injured and Edenilson is the favorite to fill that spot.

Ramon returns on the left side after recovering from a hip-region trauma, and Martínez and Matheuzinho are back after being rested against ABC. Those returns give Jair Ventura more options, but the absence of Arcanjo still changes the most exposed position on the field.

Santos and Vitória form

Santos enters after beating Deportivo Cuenca and securing a place in the Copa Sul-Americana playoffs, but it starts the night with 18 points and as the first team inside the Brasileirão relegation zone. Lucas Veríssimo is back after missing the Copa Sul-Americana through suspension, while Gustavo Henrique is out after being sent off in the loss to Grêmio.

For Vitória, the trip comes after a 10-5 aggregate win over ABC sent the club into the Copa do Nordeste final and after a positive result against Internacional in the league. Cuca’s side arrives with Gabigol among the names in the match listing, and the league table gives Santos a different edge: every point matters for a home side trying to climb away from danger.

Rafael Rodrigo Klein in charge

Rafael Rodrigo Klein of Rio Grande do Sul will referee the match, with Maira Mastella Moreira and Mauricio Coelho Silva Penna as assistants. Paulo Belence Alves dos Prazeres Filho is the fourth official, and Wagner Reway handles VAR.

For Vitória, the practical issue is simple: the team goes into one of its toughest league tests without its starting goalkeeper, and the adjustment comes in a game that sits inside a crowded run of competitions. Santos can use its home field and its 18-point position to press that advantage from the opening whistle.