Santos return to Itaquera to face the same rivals after two years | OneFootball

Santos will once again play as the home team at Neo Química Arena, repeating a scenario that hasn’t happened in two years. This Sunday, Peixe will host Red Bull Bragantino at the Corinthians stadium at 4 p.m. (Brasília time), in a match valid for the fifth round of the Campeonato Paulista.

The only time Santos hosted a game in Itaquera was in 2024, also against Bragantino. On that occasion, they won the Paulistão semifinal 3-1 and secured a spot in the state championship final. Peixe even won the first leg of the final against Palmeiras 1-0, but saw their rival take the title after suffering a 2-0 defeat in the return match.

Santos’ record at the current Neo Química Arena since the stadium’s debut, however, is not favorable. There have been 23 matches, with only four wins, eight draws, and 12 losses. Of those victories, two were against their São Paulo rival and the other two against Bragantino and Novorizontino.

This Sunday, the teams will face each other again in the same stadium, with Santos once more as the home team, trying to repeat the positive result and maintain their good record in Itaquera against Red Bull Bragantino. But this time, they face Massa Bruta in great form and currently the undefeated leader of the Paulista.

Santos in the Paulista

Santos started the season with a comeback win over Novorizontino, 2-1. However, they haven’t won in the state competition since then, with a loss to Palmeiras and two draws, against Guarani and Corinthians.

With these results, Peixe is the last team within the qualifying zone for the Campeonato Paulista quarterfinals, sitting in eighth place with five points.

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