Cuca confirms Neymar to miss Bahia trip to manage workload | OneFootball

After the goalless draw with Coritiba, head coach Cuca confirmed Neymar will be rested. According to Diario Do Peixe, the No 10 will not travel to face Bahia on Saturday at 18:30 in Salvador, with an eye on Tuesday's Copa Sudamericana match against San Lorenzo in Argentina.

Cuca said the call was driven by the physical and emotional load the forward has carried in recent outings. He noted Neymar's high mileage and bursts, felt this display was slightly down, and added there is no recovery window before Tuesday, so he will sit out Saturday.

The recent run marked Neymar's first sequence of four consecutive games for Santos in nine months. Since then, his involvement had alternated because of injuries, suspension and workload management set by the technical staff.

Against Coritiba, he remained one of the side's most involved players but could not prevent another setback at Vila Belmiro. The draw made it three home matches without a win, increasing pressure before the trips ahead.

With his weekend absence confirmed, the internal expectation is to have the playmaker in better condition for the decisive meeting with San Lorenzo on 28 at 19:00 in Buenos Aires. Santos have only one point in the competition and view the fixture as vital to stay alive in Group D.

Source: Diario Do Peixe