Neymar in the derby? Vojvoda on number 10 for Palmeiras v Santos | OneFootball

Neymar returned to the pitch after 48 days recovering from a muscle injury in his right thigh and delivered a performance praised by coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda, who admitted that the earlier-than-expected comeback was the midfielder-forward’s own wish. While aiming for a run of games to help Santos in their fight against relegation in the Brazilian Championship, Neymar is a doubt for the derby against Palmeiras.

Physically, Neymar is recovered. However, the synthetic turf at Allianz Parque, which will host the match for the 32nd round, works against the presence of the number 10 for Peixe in the game. The player has already spoken out against synthetic pitches, and Santos is also cautious with the different grass to avoid another injury for the athlete, who has just recovered from his third injury this year alone. Vojvoda did not confirm whether the star will play in the derby.

“I haven’t planned the game against Palmeiras yet, but it’s already on my mind. We’re talking about logistics, which players we’ll include, but it’s something we have to analyze day by day. It’s not decided yet. As for Neymar’s presence, it’s about talking to him, since he’s been through many battles. The best thing a coach can do is listen to him. I’ll talk to him, but we know the reality, where we’re playing, synthetic turf… I want to finish this year with Neymar on the field,” Vojvoda revealed after the 1-1 draw with Fortaleza.

Neymar returns and helps Santos secure a draw

The midfielder-forward became an option for Vojvoda again after more than a month out. Before stepping onto the field against Fortaleza, he had last played on September 14, in the draw against Atlético-MG. Days later, he suffered an injury to the rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh and missed seven matches.

Neymar was brought on at the 22nd minute of the second half, replacing Victor Hugo. With less than ten minutes on the pitch, he provided the pass for Adonis Frias to shoot across the box. The ball deflected off Bruno Pacheco and went into the goal, leaving Brenno with no chance to save. In stoppage time, he took a dangerous free kick, forcing the goalkeeper to make a save.

Next Santos match

Palmeiras vs Santos Competition: Brazilian Championship (32nd round) Date and time: November 6, 2025 (Thursday), at 9:30 PM (Brasília time) Venue: Allianz Parque, São Paulo (SP)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.