Boy Ney is on! Neymar’s great goal boosts Santos in a crucial game against Sport in the Brasileirão Série A

Neymar, number 10 of Santos, scored the first goal of the match against Sport, in the 25th minute of the first half, at Vila Belmiro, at pass to the left side, where the player dribbled the marking and finished with precision into the back of the net, putting the score at 1-0 for Peixe. The match, which started at 9:30 pm local time on Santos, represents a vital opportunity for Santos, currently 17th placed with 38 points, in the fight against relegation, while Sport, bottom with 17 points, seeks to complicate their opponents.

ELE É DECISIVO!

Contra-ataque do Santos, Neymar recebeu sozinho e chutou no canto para abrir o placar na Vila Belmiro.#Futebol #Brasileirão #Santos #Sport pic.twitter.com/Q63vY5Jvtd

— ge (@geglobo) November 29, 2025

The game takes place at a decisive moment in the competition, with Santos pushing to score points and escape the relegation zone. The fans filled the Vila Belmiro stands, creating a high-intensity atmosphere from the opening whistle.

• Main initial statistics of the confrontation:
  • Ball possession: Santos 58%, Sport 42%.
  • Finishings: Santos 4, Sport 1.
  • Corners: Santos 2, Sport 0.

These numbers reflect the initial dominance of the home team, which prioritizes quick plays down the flanks.

Electrifying start at Vila Belmiro

The referee whistled the start of the match at 9:30 pm, and Santos soon took control of the actions. Barreal took a free kick in the first minute, with Zé Ivaldo heading it, but the Sport defense cut it for a corner.

After two minutes, Igor Vinicius advanced from the right and was fouled, creating a dead ball opportunity for Peixe.

Sport responded after three minutes, with Léo Pereira entering the area and shooting wide, in one of the visitor’s few dangerous attempts so far.

Initial moves define the pace of the game

Guilherme tried to dribble past four markers in the eighth minute, but lost the ball at the edge of the area. The move highlighted the high pressure of Sport in the Santos midfield.

Neymar crossed in the fifth minute, but the ball fell into the hands of goalkeeper Gabriel, who guaranteed safety in the red-black goal.

Tiquinho Soares took a risk in the 11th minute, after a pass from Guilherme on a counterattack, but sent the ball out of the penalty area.

Souza, Santos’s left-back, saved a shot from the goalkeeper in the 16th minute, after a corner, in a crucial save that kept the score at zero.

Santos pressure generates first clear chances

In the 13th minute, Igor Vinicius crossed from the right, but the Sport defense blocked it, alleviating the danger in the area.

Neymar received the ball in the box in the 14th minute, dribbled and shot hard, hitting Thyere in the face, which resulted in a foul for Santos.

The number 10 tried again in the 15th minute, hitting from inside the area, but the ball deflected off the mark and went out along the baseline.

In the 18th minute, Neymar looked for Barreal with a high pass, but goalkeeper Gabriel kept possession, frustrating the aerial play.

Guilherme advanced quickly in the 22nd minute, but Igor disarmed Sport’s counterattack, recovering the ball for Peixe.

Neymar’s goal changes the scenario

Neymar’s goal in the 25th minute came from a quick transition. Guilherme puxou pelo flanco direito, abriu para o esquerdo, e o craque, driblando o zagueiro, finalizou colocado no canto direito.

The move exemplifies Santos’s efficiency in counterattacks, with the team exploiting the speed of its attackers.

Before the goal, Peixe had already created three shots, compared to just one from Sport, showing superiority in offensive actions.

Sport, in turn, opted for a defensive posture, with compact lines to contain Santos’ attacks.

Context of the fight for permanence

Santos arrives at the duel with 38 points, in 17th place, one point behind Vitória and three behind Internacional. A victory could knock the team out of Z-4 immediately.

Sport, with 17 points, has accumulated five consecutive defeats and focuses on testing young players for 2026, after mathematical relegation.

In history, Santos has the advantage, with 18 wins in 36 games against Leão, six victories in the last ten in Vila Belmiro.

• Highlighted tactical factors:
  • Aerial ball: Ponto weak from Santos, with Sport exploiting long crosses.
  • Counterattacks: Arma main of Peixe, with an average of 6.5 shots per game.
  • Absences: Escobar out due to injury; Neymar plays with knee protection.

These elements influence the planning of both coaches.

Minute by minute of the main moves

The match continues in progress, with Santos pressing after the goal. Aqui are the highlights until 27 minutes into the first half:

• 1′: Barreal takes a free kick in the area; Zé Ivaldo heads, but the defense cuts it for a corner.
• 3′: Léo Pereira shoots from inside the area to the outside for Sport, the visitor’s first clear chance.
• 11′: Tiquinho Soares finishes at the edge of the area after a counterattack, but sends it over the goal.
• 16′: Souza takes a chance from outside the area following a corner; goalkeeper Gabriel makes a great save.
• 25′: Gol of Neymar! Contra-attack with Guilherme; dribbles and finishes in the right corner for 1-0.

The game remains tense, with Peixe controlling possession and Sport seeking sporadic reactions.

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Lineup and substitutions in focus

Santos lined up with Gabriel in goal, Souza on the left flank, Zé Ivaldo in defense, Igor Vinicius on the right, and midfield with Neymar as the highlight. Tiquinho Soares and Guilherme complete the attack, under the command of the coach who prioritizes speed.

Sport opted for a defensive formation, with Gabriel safe in goal, Thyere in defense and Léo Pereira in the middle, aiming to contain Santos’ momentum.

No substitutions took place until the 27th minute, but the Peixe bench has options like Victor Hugo to reinforce the midfield.

The refereeing, led by Felipe Fernandes from Lima, records a low average number of cards, focusing on the flow of the game.

Numbers that shape the match

Santos records an average of 6.5 shots per game, compared to 5.7 for Sport, indicating a greater offensive volume for the home team. Escanteios favors the visitor, with 5.9 against 4.6 for Peixe.

Both teams have four expulsions this season, which reinforces the need for discipline.

The historic clash at Vila Belmiro shows recent balance, with Santos undefeated in the last three duels at home.

At 27 minutes, the game remains open, with Santos managing the minimum advantage and Sport pushing for a draw.