Santos loses to Athletico Paranaense, remains in relegation zone

Santos suffered another defeat in the Brasileirao, falling 2-0 at home to Athletico Paranaense in a matchday 22 fixture. The loss keeps the São Paulo club mired in the relegation zone, intensifying concerns about their potential demotion.

Kevin Viveros was the standout player, scoring both goals for the visiting team and securing all three points for Athletico Paranaense. Despite efforts to rally, Santos could not find the back of the net and failed to salvage even a draw in front of their home crowd at the Vila Belmiro stadium.

Adding to the disappointment for Santos fans, Bolivian midfielder Miguel Terceros, who was among the called-up players, did not see any game time. He remained on the substitutes' bench for the entire match, observing another disappointing result for his team in the league.

With this latest loss, Santos remains on 22 points, occupying one of the direct relegation spots. Although several matchdays remain, the club's precarious position is causing significant worry. This situation is particularly concerning for a team that, despite reinforcing its squad with quality players, finds itself once again battling to avoid relegation.

Santos must quickly shift its focus as it prepares for a new international challenge. On Thursday, the team will host Macará of Ecuador in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16. The club desperately needs to improve its performance to avoid further complications in the final stretch of the Brasileirao season.