Santos fight to avoid drop, must defy record vs Palmeiras | OneFootball

With the pressure of the relegation zone knocking at the door and the urgent need to score points, Santos approaches the classic match against Palmeiras facing a scenario that mixes tension, obligation, and a recent track record that is far from encouraging.

Playing as the home team, Peixe has only two victories in the last ten encounters, in addition to four draws and four losses – a performance that represents a 33% success rate.

These two victories help explain how the duel has been tough for the Santos side in recent years. The first of these occurred in the 2019 Brazilian Championship, when Santos won 2-0 at Vila Belmiro. The other was more recent and in a decisive atmosphere: the 2024 Paulistão final, in which the team from Baixada gained an advantage by winning the first leg 1-0 in Santos, with a goal by Otero, a result that took Peixe to the decision with confidence – although the title did not stay at Vila.

Now, the context is quite different. Vojvoda's team is experiencing a moment of instability and needs to react to get out of the relegation zone. The coach is still trying to define the best midfield, a sector that has become central in the preparation to face a Palmeiras team that usually controls the central area of the field and reduces the opponent's spaces.

Santos is trying to balance physical wear, players' muscle tension, and tactical adjustments amid the season's marathon, while the rival arrives more stable and with confidence. Palmeiras, in turn, is not only in a solid phase but has also been an unpleasant visitor at Vila, managing to assert itself even in balanced games.

To breathe in the standings and seek a turning point, Santos will have to ignore the recent track record, reproduce the energy of the rare victories it had over Palmeiras at home, and turn the classic into a turning point. Facing the risk of relegation, any positive result will be huge and could mean much more than three points.

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