Paulista Derby Reignites: Santos Host Corinthians as Neymar's Absence Looms Large
An early-season heavyweight clash in the Campeonato Paulista Série A1 is set to take place as Santos, nicknamed 'Peixe,' host Corinthians, known as 'Timão,' at their home ground, Estádio Urbano Caldeira. This traditional derby, fueled by a long-standing rivalry, will see a significant twist with the confirmed absence of Santos star Neymar due to injury.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This match marks an important early-stage encounter in the 2026 Campeonato Paulista Série A1 (Paulistão), featuring two of São Paulo state's traditional powerhouses. The Paulistão is the top-tier professional state football league in São Paulo, comprising 16 clubs divided into four groups. Teams play a single round-robin against opponents from other groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stages. Corinthians are the reigning champions and hold the record for most titles with 31. In these early days of the 2026 season, Santos currently sits 8th in the league standings, while Corinthians is placed 7th, indicating both teams are looking to establish a strong position.
Recent Form
As the season is still in its nascent stages, both teams have a limited number of official matches played, with only 3 Paulista A1 games each. Santos' recent form includes one win, one draw, and one loss. They secured a 2-1 victory against Novorizontino, followed by a 0-1 defeat to Palmeiras, and a 1-1 draw with Guarani. Corinthians' recent performance also stands at one win, one draw, and one loss, having beaten Ponte Preta 3-0, lost 0-3 to Bragantino, and drawn 1-1 with São Paulo in the Paulista A1.
Key Players & Injury News
For Santos, the biggest news is undoubtedly the absence of superstar Neymar. Since his return to Santos last year, Neymar has been plagued by injuries and is currently recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, ruling him out of this match. Other injured players include Gabriel Bontempo (hamstring), Tiquinho (calf), and Vinicius Balieiro (cruciate ligament). In attack, Benjamin Rollheiser and Gabriel Barbosa are expected to be key figures. On the Corinthians side, several key players are sidelined, including Caca, Memphis Depay, and Rodrigo Garro. Additionally, midfielder Raniele is out with a muscular lesion with no specified return date. However, Corinthians has strengthened its squad for the 2026 season with new signings, including experienced defender Gabriel Paulista and midfielder Matheus Pereira, who are expected to bring new energy and depth to the team. Forward Yuri Alberto and defender Gustavo Henrique will be crucial for the team.