In a critical battle between two relegation-threatened teams, Santos defeated Vitória 1-0 at Barradão Stadium on Sunday, ending their winless streak in the 2025 Brasileirão.
The match's decisive moment came before the 20-minute mark when Guilherme redeemed himself with a beautiful header after earlier missing a clear scoring opportunity. Santos goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão delivered another standout performance with several crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet.
The second half saw the much-anticipated return of Neymar, who entered the match as a substitute alongside Thaciano, replacing goalscorer Guilherme and Barreal. The 33-year-old Brazilian superstar, who had been sidelined for over a month with a thigh injury, made an immediate impact. In the closing minutes, Neymar won a free kick at the edge of the area and nearly scored, forcing Vitória goalkeeper Lucas Arcanjo into a spectacular save.
This victory marks only Santos' second win in the competition this season, their first coming on April 16 against Atlético-MG. With the three points, Santos climbed to 18th place with eight points, while Vitória remained at nine points but dropped to 17th position, falling into the relegation zone.
Santos now turns their attention to a friendly match against RB Leipzig scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, before hosting Botafogo in their next Brasileirão fixture on Sunday, June 1. For Neymar, who rejoined his boyhood club in January 2025 after terminating his contract with Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, this match represents another step in his comeback journey as he aims to regain full fitness ahead of the 2026 World Cup.