Santos v Vasco da Gama: relegation rivals seek first league win | OneFootball

Santos host Vasco da Gama in the Brasileirão at Estádio Urbano Caldeira on Thursday, 26 February 2026, with both sides in the bottom four and chasing a first league win to kick-start their seasons.

Santos and Vasco da Gama each have one point from three matches and sit 19th and 18th respectively. The recent head to head favoured the visitors in emphatic style, with a 6-0 away win in August 2025 at this venue.

Peixe have endured a tough defensive start, conceding seven league goals across their opening three outings. Cruz-Maltino have been more solid at the back but have struggled in attack, scoring only two so far. Both teams' early momentum reads two defeats and one draw.

Cruz-Maltino are without injured quartet Jair, Thiago Mendes, Carlos Cuesta and Mateus Carvalho, trimming options in midfield and defence and potentially forcing tweaks in selection. That may hand Gigante da Colina a more conservative balance in the centre of the pitch.

With Alvinegro Praiano leaking goals and Gigante da Colina yet to click in the final third, the match could swing on which side tidies up at both ends. Early control and attacking precision may prove decisive given the recent numbers.

A victory would move either team to four points and could lift them out of the relegation places, while a draw risks keeping both in the drop zone. After this, Peixe travel to Mirassol, while Cruz-Maltino then host Palmeiras.