A heavily rotated Santos side still boasts the star power of Neymar and Gabriel Barbosa in attack, offering a clear class differential against a Mirassol outfit that has managed a solitary win on their travels. The visitors arrive with three starting absentees and no away clean s…
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Sign inSantos face Mirassol in a Brazilian Serie A relegation six-pointer on Saturday evening (August 23, 2026) as round 24 pits two sides hovering just above the drop zone against each other. Santos sit 17th on 22 points, while Mirassol are 15th with 23 points, making this a pivotal encounter for both clubs.
Santos manager will be without three confirmed absentees. Gustavo Henrique (muscle), Moises (ankle) and Igor Vinicius (back) are all sidelined, while Gabriel Bontempo and Gabriel Menino face late fitness tests after picking up problems in their last outing. The hosts also have seven players walking a disciplinary tightrope – Joao Schmidt, Barbosa, Luan Peres, Alvaro Barreal, Gonzalo Escobar, Adonis Frias and Arao are each one yellow card away from a suspension. Neymar is expected to start in attack alongside Rollheiser and Barreal, with Brazao in goal.
For Mirassol, Negueba remains out with the serious knee injury that has kept him sidelined for months, and Aldo Filho is missing due to a muscular problem. There is better news in goal, where Walter has recovered from a thigh oedema and is set to keep his place. The main doubt surrounds Edson Carioca, who was substituted early in the heavy 5-1 defeat to Flamengo. Should he fail to prove his fitness, Fernandinho and Alesson could flank Bruno Santos in a reshaped attacking trio.
The Peixe’s recent form paints a grim picture. They have taken just one win from their last six league matches (L, L, W, L, D, L), a run that has dragged them deep into the relegation scrap. The 29 goals they have scored this season suggest they carry a threat, but 35 conceded highlights persistent defensive fragility.
Mirassol’s form has also been erratic. Across their last six Brasileirao fixtures they have recorded three wins and three defeats (W, L, W, D, W, L), the most recent of which was a sobering 5-1 home loss to Flamengo. That result punctured any sense of momentum and underlined the challenge they face when encountering top-tier attacking talent.
The inclusion of Neymar transforms Santos’s creative threat. The veteran forward, who leads the line alongside Barbosa and Barreal, will look to exploit a Mirassol defence that was torn apart by Flamengo just a week ago. Centre-backs Joao Victor and Willian Machado will need to be at their best to contain a player who can decide a game in an instant.
With only a handful of points separating the teams just above the drop zone, a victory for either side would provide vital breathing room. Defeat, however, could see the loser slip into the bottom four depending on results elsewhere. The stakes for both clubs could hardly be higher as they enter the final third of the season.
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