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Montevideo City Torque host Cienciano in the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana on Friday 18 September 2026, and the predicted lineups for this one are shaped as much by who is missing as by who is in form. With Montevideo City Torque down a defender through injury and needing to fill the gap, the main selection question here is whether Marcelo Méndez leans on rotation or picks his more regular back-line options. Cienciano, by contrast, arrive with a full squad to choose from and a settled look to their expected XI.
Montevideo City Torque Predicted XI
Our projection has Montevideo City Torque lining up in a 4-3-3, the shape Marcelo Méndez prefers as coach. This looks like a rotating side – only 2 of the projected XI started their last match – which makes the team news around Friday’s game harder to pin down with confidence. Gastón Rodríguez has started three of the last four matches used in this sample and was part of the most recent lineup, while at the other end Sebastian·Guerrero has yet to start in any of those four games, making his inclusion here the least certain part of the projected line-up.
Montevideo City Torque predicted XI: Gastón Rodríguez; Brian Gutiérrez, Kevin Isaias·Silva, Gary Kagelmacher, Facundo Silvera; Pablo Siles, E. Obregón, Gonzalo Montes; Salomón Rodríguez, Luka Andrade, Sebastian·Guerrero
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 4 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 13 | Gastón Rodríguez | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| D | 22 | Brian Gutiérrez | 2/4 | 2/3 |
| D | 3 | Kevin Isaias·Silva | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| D | 24 | Gary Kagelmacher | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| D | 26 | Facundo Silvera | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Pablo Siles | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| M | 10 | E. Obregón | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| M | 20 | Gonzalo Montes | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| F | 9 | Salomón Rodríguez | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| F | 7 | Luka Andrade | 2/4 | 1/3 |
| F | 9 | Sebastian·Guerrero | 0/4 | 0/3 |
Cienciano Predicted XI
Horacio Melgarejo’s side are projected in a 4-2-3-1, his preferred setup as coach, built from the last five matches used for this projection. Cienciano look largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, giving this expected XI a firmer footing than their opponents’. Carlos Cabello has started all five of the matches sampled, the most consistent figure on either team sheet, while Neri Bandiera also arrives in good order having started four of the five and featured in the most recent game.
Cienciano predicted XI: Ítalo Espinoza; Carlos Cabello, Kevin Becerra, Marcos Martinich, Mariano Bogliacino; Neri Bandiera, Ademar Robles, Santiago Arias, Alejandro Hohberg, Gerson Barreto; Carlos Garcés
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 5 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 31 | Ítalo Espinoza | 3/5 | 2/3 |
| D | 22 | Carlos Cabello | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 3 | Kevin Becerra | 4/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 16 | Marcos Martinich | 3/5 | 2/3 |
| D | 4 | Mariano Bogliacino | 3/5 | 2/3 |
| M | 11 | Neri Bandiera | 4/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 29 | Ademar Robles | 3/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 5 | Santiago Arias | 4/5 | 2/3 |
| M | 10 | Alejandro Hohberg | 3/5 | 1/3 |
| M | 88 | Gerson Barreto | 3/5 | 2/3 |
| F | 21 | Carlos Garcés | 4/5 | 2/3 |
Team News and Confirmed Absentees
Nahuel Leivas Rodríguez is out injured, which thins Montevideo City Torque’s defensive options for this trip. Among the bench options, Franco Pizzichillo and Diogo Guzmán have both started twice across the sample and stand out as the likeliest candidates to be drafted in if cover is needed at the back.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nahuel Leivas Rodríguez | D | injured | Cruciate Ligament Rupture |
For Cienciano, no absentees are recorded in the data, meaning Horacio Melgarejo goes into this match with his squad effectively intact. Should he look to freshen things up regardless, Matias Succar and Gonzalo Falcón have each started twice in the matches used here and offer the most tested depth off the bench.
How These Line-ups Were Picked
Each predicted lineup here is built from that side’s own recent matches – four for Montevideo City Torque and five for Cienciano – with more recent games weighted more heavily than older ones when working out who starts. Any player confirmed injured or suspended has been removed from selection before the XI is projected. This is our own projection rather than an announced team, and it can and will change once the official lineups are confirmed closer to kickoff.
Read also: Cienciano vs Montevideo City Torque Prediction: 18.09.2026 Copa Sudamericana 2026
Read also: Montevideo City Torque vs Cienciano Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for Montevideo City Torque vs Cienciano?
Gastón Rodríguez is projected in goal for Montevideo City Torque, while Ítalo Espinoza is expected to start between the posts for Cienciano.
What formation are Montevideo City Torque and Cienciano expected to use?
Montevideo City Torque are projected in a 4-3-3, Marcelo Méndez’s preferred shape, while Cienciano are expected in a 4-2-3-1 under Horacio Melgarejo.
Who is unavailable for Montevideo City Torque and Cienciano?
Nahuel Leivas Rodríguez is out injured for Montevideo City Torque, while Cienciano have no absentees recorded in the data for this match.
When do Montevideo City Torque play Cienciano?
The CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana fixture kicks off on Friday 18 September 2026.