Memphis Depay meets Neymar again, eyes parity in Corinthians v Santos | OneFootball

The derby between Corinthians and Santos this Sunday (30) could once again put two of the teams’ biggest names face to face. Memphis Depay and Neymar have a history of clashes that began back in European football and has gained new chapters since they started playing in Brazil. In the overall record, the Brazilian has the edge, while the Dutchman is still looking to close the gap.

According to Transfermarkt numbers, Memphis and Neymar have been on opposite sides in seven matches throughout their careers. The teams represented by the Santos star won three times, the teams of Corinthians’ No. 10 won twice, and there were also two draws.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Corinthians Agency

The eighth meeting could happen at 4 p.m. this Sunday at Neo Química Arena, in the 25th round of the Brazilian Championship. Besides the individual matchup, Memphis heads into the derby with the chance to return to Timão’s starting lineup after three months.

Rivalry began in French football

Most of the meetings between the two took place during their time in European football. In France, Memphis played for Lyon while Neymar wore the Paris Saint-Germain shirt, and the forwards faced each other five times.

PSG won three of those matches, while Lyon managed one victory. The other meeting ended in a draw and happened in a final.

In the French League Cup final, the teams drew 0-0 over 120 minutes at the Stade de France. The title was decided on penalties, with the Parisians winning 6-5.

Memphis’ only win over Neymar in that period came in the 2020/21 French league season, when Lyon beat PSG in the 14th round of the competition.

Memphis has the edge in meetings played in Brazil

While the overall record favors Neymar, the picture changes when only the matches played since the Brazilian returned to Santos are considered. So far, there have been two derbies with both on the field, with one Corinthians win and one draw.

The first came in February 2025, in the Paulista Championship. At Neo Química Arena, Corinthians beat Santos 2-1. Memphis directly contributed to the result by providing an assist for Yuri Alberto to score one of the black-and-white side’s goals.

More than a year later, the two met again at Vila Belmiro. On March 15, 2026, in the sixth round of the Brasileirão, Santos and Corinthians drew 1-1. This time, Memphis himself was responsible for Timão’s goal.

Thus, in the two meetings played in Brazilian football, the Dutchman has one win, one draw, one goal, and one assist against Neymar’s team.

Derby could mark Memphis’ return to the starting lineup

Besides the possibility of facing Neymar again, Memphis could start a match for Corinthians again after about three months. His last appearance in the starting lineup came on May 27, in the 2-0 defeat to Platense in the Copa Libertadores.

Since then, the forward played in the World Cup with the Netherlands national team and later went through the negotiation period that ended with the renewal of his contract with Corinthians until July 2028.

The possibility of Memphis starting the derby grows even stronger with Yuri Alberto’s absence. The No. 9 will not be included in the squad after feeling pain in his right thigh again during the week. Tests did not identify a new injury, but the club decided to rest him.

Corinthians look to bounce back in the Brasileirão

The clash is also important for Timão in the Brazilian Championship standings. Fernando Diniz’s team comes in under pressure after two straight defeats in the competition, against Cruzeiro and Coritiba. With 32 points, Corinthians sit in 10th place and are looking to win again to move closer to the top half of the table.

Corinthians and Santos take the field this Sunday (30) at 4 p.m. at Neo Química Arena, in the 25th round of the Brasileirão. If both are used, Memphis and Neymar will write the eighth chapter of a rivalry that crossed European football and now has the Clássico Alvinegro as its stage.

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