Macará 0–0 Santos | Copa Sudamericana 2026 | Second Leg Analysis

A goalless stalemate in Ambato brought the curtain down on this Copa Sudamericana tie, as Macará and Santos played out a tense, scoreless draw in the second leg on August 20. The result left both sides with precisely what the contest produced: nothing more, nothing less — a 0–0 draw across 90-plus minutes that will have its broader significance determined by what transpired in the first leg.

Match Analysis

Macará were the dominant force on the night by virtually every statistical measure, yet they could not convert their superiority into goals. The Ecuadorian side controlled 57% of possession, generated 14 total shots compared to Santos's 7, and registered 10 corners to Santos's solitary set-piece delivery from that position. Perhaps most telling was the shots-on-target differential: Macará managed 3 on-target efforts while Santos registered zero, suggesting the Brazilian side was largely content to absorb pressure and deny space rather than chase the game.

Coach Guillermo Óscar Sanguinetti Giordano's side also produced 73 dangerous attacks versus Santos's 40, and their 10 key passes to Santos's 5 underlines how one-sided the creative output was. Yet the scoreline tells the crueler truth — those efforts were not enough to breach a resilient Santos backline.

Santos, under coach Alexi Stival, made decisive tactical adjustments at the interval, introducing Rafael de Andrade Gonzaga and Benjamín Rollheiser simultaneously to reshape their midfield and attacking options. The changes appeared to solidify Santos's defensive resolve in the second half. A booking for Gustavo Henrique Pereira in the 11th minute set an early physical tone, and late yellow cards for Ronielson da Silva Barbosa in the 90th minute reflected the tension of the closing stages.

Macará's own changes — including José Andrés Klinger Sosa on for Mateo Viera in the 64th minute and Martín Alejandro Tello Escobar entering in the 74th — were aimed at injecting freshness into the attack, but Santos's defensive shape held firm. Jimmy Denilson Bolaños Cervantes collected a yellow card for Macará in the 62nd minute amid midfield battles that grew increasingly fractious.

The stats highlight a frustrating evening for the home side: despite their territorial advantage and attacking volume, Santos's goalkeeper was never seriously tested enough to concede. A 76% successful passing rate for Macará versus Santos's 68% tells a story of controlled but ultimately ineffective possession.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast called for a 1–1 draw, assigning equal probability to both sides winning (35% each) with a 30% draw probability. The actual outcome was a goalless draw, meaning our directional prediction of a draw was correct, earning a favorable outcome despite the scoreline differing from the specific 1–1 forecast. With a confidence rating of 58/100, the moderate uncertainty reflected the genuine competitiveness of this tie, and the match played out in line with that measured caution.

Key Takeaways

• Macará dominated in every attacking category but failed to convert, highlighting a clinical finishing problem on the night.
• Santos's defensive discipline was the difference, particularly after their double substitution at half-time reshaped the contest.
• The 10-corner, 3-on-target performance from Macará encapsulates the story: plenty of approach play, insufficient end product.
• Our draw prediction proved correct, validating the balanced pre-match assessment of this evenly-matched Copa Sudamericana tie.