Santos v Athletico Paranaense: top-three push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Santos host Athletico Paranaense in the Brasileirão at Estádio Urbano Caldeira on Sunday, 9 August 2026, with the hosts seeking breathing space above the relegation places and the visitors aiming to consolidate a top-three spot.

Santos sit 16th on 22 points, while Athletico Paranaense are third with 37. The visitors won 2-1 when the teams met in February.

Peixe are unbeaten in their last three in all competitions, with two wins and a draw, and have taken 18 of their 22 league points at home. Furacão, meanwhile, have three wins and a draw from their last four league games, though they were beaten 4-0 at Vitória in the cup last time out.

Suspensions and injuries could shape selections. Neymar is banned for the hosts, with Lucas Veríssimo, Moisés, Gustavo Henrique, Vinicius Lira and Pepê Fermino sidelined. For Athletico-PR, goalkeeper Santos is suspended, while Juan Camilo Portilla, Lucas Esquivel, Renan Viana and Claudinho are out.

Athletico-PR have conceded 19 in 21 league games with seven clean sheets, and have scored only nine times in 10 away matches, pointing to tight margins. The Alvinegro Praiano have yet to score from a set piece this season and have just one headed goal, so their route may again come through open play combinations. For the visitors, Kevin Viveros sits joint top of the scoring chart with 12, and Gaston Americo Benavidez has supplied five assists. Gabriel Barbosa leads the hosts with seven league goals.

A Peixe win would lift them to 25 points and could pull them further from the relegation places. Victory for Furacão would take them to 40 points, strengthening their top-three position and keeping their Libertadores group stage course on track.