Neymar returns: Santos shine in best performance of the year | OneFootball

By JP Cardoso 

With a big 6-0 rout, Santos secured its spot in the quarterfinals of the Campeonato Paulista this Sunday at Vila Belmiro. Peixe’s performance against Velo Clube was convincing from the very first minute, and the technical disparity between the teams was very evident. 

Despite losing the first-half shot duel to Velo (7 to 10), Santos was lethal in the opening period, showing objectivity in the plays created, mainly through the feet of Barreal, Bontempo, and Moisés. 

In the second half, with the sending off of midfielder Luiz Otavio, Santos’ dominance increased even more, and Vojvoda’s team had no trouble scoring three more goals. 

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News

The match marked Neymar’s return to the pitch and, consequently, his debut in 2026. In 45 minutes, the number 10 provided an assist and had 56 actions with the ball, as well as three key passes. 

Finally, Vojvoda promoted the new signing Moisés to the starting lineup, and he did not disappoint. The striker scored Santos’ second goal, created two chances, and had 41 actions with the ball. The numbers are from the website Sofascore. 

Neymar – Photos: Raul Baretta / Santos FC

Hope

After qualifying in the Paulistão and a good performance at home, Santos fans are filled with hope for the next stage. Furthermore, with Neymar’s return, the team could gain even more quality in midfield, making the squad more competitive on the pitch. 

The Paulista Football Federation will still announce the date and time of the match between Santos and Novorizontino for the Paulistão quarterfinals.  

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