With Vojvoda, Santos enjoying best defensive form since late Paulistão run | OneFootball

Vojvoda is still undefeated under Santos' command. Since his arrival, the Peixe has played three matches - all in the Brasileirão - with two draws (Fluminense and Atlético-MG) and, most recently, a victory over São Paulo. The Alvinegro Praiano seems to have not only regained balance and a winning streak, but also improved its defensive system, which is in its best phase since the final stretch of the Campeonato Paulista.

In these three mentioned games, Santos conceded only one goal, when they visited Atlético-MG and drew 1-1 at the Arena MRV, for the 23rd round of the national tournament. It's worth noting that for more than 40 minutes, the Peixão played with one less player, after the expulsion of Zé Ivaldo, 10 minutes into the final stage.

Against Fluminense, the Peixe, at Vila Belmiro, drew without goals (0-0), and, against São Paulo, the team led by Vojvoda won 1-0, with a goal from Guilherme, also in Baixada Santista.

For comparison, in the same period of the first round, Santos conceded three goals: two against São Paulo and one against Fluminense. At that time, the Alvinegro Praiano faced the Tricolor carioca, the rival from São Paulo, and Atlético-MG under the command of three different coaches: Pedro Caixinha, César Sampaio, and Cléber Xavier, respectively.

Best defensive phase since the Paulistão

Since the Campeonato Paulista, when they were eliminated by Corinthians in the semifinal, Santos hadn't had a sequence of only one goal conceded in three matches. Both Pedro Caixinha and Cléber Xavier had difficulties in providing defensive solidity to the team from Baixada.

During that period, the Peixão came from a series of victories over Noroeste (3-0), Inter de Limeira (3-0), and Red Bull Bragantino (2-0). Before, they had defeated Inter de Limeira by 3-1. The good phase was interrupted with the 2-0 defeat to Corinthians, which eliminated Neymar's team from the State Championship.

Next Santos match

Standings situation

With the victory over São Paulo, Santos jumped to 15th place, with 26 points, four more than Vitória, which opens the relegation zone.

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