Santos use break to revitalise Vila Belmiro pitch before Corinthians derby | OneFootball

Santos are using a break in their schedule, following an early Paulistão exit, to revitalise the Vila Belmiro pitch ahead of Corinthians on 15 March in the Brasileirão.

According to Globo.com, the surface is undergoing vacuum drainage maintenance and agronomic planning, with work under way each day. Activity began the day after the win over Vasco, which was on the 26th.

Club asset manager Alexandre Librandi said a dedicated team strives to keep the grass in prime condition, noting the ground also stages men's, women's and at times youth matches, so upkeep must be constant.

The pitch withstood heavy rain against Vasco, and Librandi credited an advanced vacuum drainage system first installed in 1997, the earliest of its kind in Latin America, with similar setups only spreading to other Brazilian stadiums from 2012 during World Cup works.

Staff monitor forecasts and, with rain expected, called in specialists to decompact the soil to improve drainage. Santos also carried out aeration to aid grass respiration and nutrient absorption.

Mowing, irrigation and fine-tuning continue through the hiatus, with the aim of presenting a pristine surface for the return of Neymar and team-mates to the club's home in the derby against their biggest rivals.

Source: Globo.com