Santos welcome back Neymar and Gabigol for Mirassol, with Igor Vinícius and Barreal expected to start | OneFootball

According to Globo.com, Santos will have Neymar and Gabigol back for Sunday’s Campeonato Brasileiro meeting with Mirassol, the 24th round, at Vila Belmiro at 18:30 Brasília time.

The pair trained as normal on Saturday morning at CT Rei Pelé. Head coach Cuca is also expected to restore right-back Igor Vinícius and forward Barreal to the XI, and all four are in the squad.

The quartet were rested for Thursday’s Copa Sul-Americana trip to Macará in Ecuador, remaining in Santos to prepare for Mirassol, seen as a direct relegation fight.

Left-back Escobar also returns after suspension, having not travelled to Ecuador. Midfielder Gabriel Bontempo has recovered from a right thigh problem and is expected to start on the bench.

A likely Santos XI is: Gabriel Brazão, Igor Vinícius, Willian Arão, Luan Peres, Escobar, João Schmidt, Cristian Oliva or Gustavo Henrique, Rony or Caballero, Barreal, Neymar and Gabigol.

Saturday’s session began with physical work, followed by tactical drills and set-piece routines, before a light-hearted rachão to finish.

Santos remain without injured players. Centre-back Lucas Veríssimo is recovering from a left calf issue and could be in contention to be listed against Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil. Vinícius Lira has a left knee injury, Gabriel Menino a left knee sprain, and Pepê Fermino a right thigh injury.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”