Neymar set to start for Santos after two months out, recall last match | OneFootball

Santos faces Novorizontino in the quarterfinals of the Campeonato Paulista, in a match that will take place at the Estádio Jorge Ismael de Biasi, in Novo Horizonte, next Sunday at 4:00 PM (Brasília time).

Recovered from injury, Neymar played against Velo Clube in the 6-0 rout and could be a new addition to Juan Pablo Vojvoda’s starting lineup after two months.

Recovered

Neymar played a major role in the final stretch of the 2025 season for Peixe. With goals against Juventude, Mirassol, and Sport, the star helped the Alvinegro Praiano escape the relegation zone in the Brazilian Championship. The number 10 played through pain during the last matches and was on the field with an injury to his left knee.

His last game as a starter was on 12/7/2025, in the final round of the Brasileirão, against Cruzeiro. On that occasion, Neymar was on the field for the full 90 minutes in the 3-0 victory.

During the offseason, the star announced he would undergo arthroscopy on his left knee, which would keep him out at the start of this season. In the last match, against Velo Clube, he returned to the pitch and provided an assist for the fifth goal in the 6-0 win.

Full strength

Peixe is going through a difficult moment in the season. Vojvoda’s team qualified in the last round of the group stage after thrashing Velo Clube 6-0. However, in the Brazilian Championship, Santos is in 18th place, with only four points. The Argentine coach will be able to count on the entire squad for the match, including Neymar.

The most recent meeting between the teams ended with a victory for Peixe. On that occasion, in the first round of this edition of the Campeonato Paulista, Santos defeated Novorizontino 2-1 at Vila Belmiro, with goals from Gabigol, Thaciano, and Diego Galo.

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