Unión de Santa Fe concluded its performance in the 2025 Copa Sudamericana with a goalless draw against Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte on the final matchday of Group E. This result capped off a challenging semester for the team, which has prompted a reevaluation of its strategy as it prepares for the winter transfer window to build a more competitive squad for the second half of the year.
Following the match in Brazil, coach Leonardo Madelón’s squad returned to Sauce Viejo airport on Thursday and will enjoy an 11-day break before resuming training on June 9. The team is gearing up for a crucial 16-round match in the Copa Argentina against Rosario Central, scheduled for Saturday, June 28, with the venue yet to be confirmed.
Union had high hopes entering the season after an unprecedented transfer market, with an investment of $4.5 million. Expectations were set to compete across three tournaments in this initial segment of the year. The draw in March by Conmebol offered a feasible objective of advancing to the knockout stage of the Copa Sudamericana.
However, the team’s aspirations quickly faded, culminating in elimination following a defeat against Mushuc Runa on April 15, which left them with scant hopes of progressing after an initial dramatic victory over Cruzeiro. The subsequent losses in Chile, Ecuador, and Santa Fe against Palestino severely impacted their standing, leaving the squad with steep challenges and the need for significant victories in the closing matches to keep their hopes alive.
With the final draw, Unión finished at the bottom of Group E, recording just one win, one draw, and four losses, alongside a disheartening goal difference of -6. Domestically, the team struggled in the 2025 Apertura tournament, failing to qualify for the playoffs and ending in last place of Zone A with only 14 points from 16 matches.
As they look forward to the 2025 Clausura tournament starting in mid-July, Unión finds itself among the bottom-ranked teams, emphasizing survival as their main goal. Their position at 27th out of 30 teams provides little margin for error in accumulating points and making necessary reinforcements through the transfer market.
In the Copa Argentina, Union’s journey began with a 3-1 victory over modest rivals Colegiales, securing passage to the 16-round where they face Rosario Central later this month.
Overall, through the combination of the Apertura, Copa Sudamericana, and Copa Argentina, Unión played 23 matches this semester with a record of 5 wins, 6 draws, and 12 losses. While this period proved challenging, it offers valuable lessons that the team hopes to learn from to improve in the future.