In a high-pressure clash at MorumBIS Stadium on Monday, August 4, Santos breathed new life into their Brasileirão 2025 campaign with a crucial 3-1 victory over Juventude. The match, marking the conclusion of the 18th and penultimate round, saw Neymar deliver a standout performance with a brace, helping Santos climb out of the relegation zone.
Under Pressure, Santos Responds
Entering the match without a win in three consecutive rounds, Santos—commonly known as Peixe—faced intense pressure from fans and media alike. This tension was evident in their shaky start, with numerous unforced errors across the pitch, particularly in the midfield and defensive third.
Despite their early struggles, it was Neymar who stepped up when his team needed him the most. In the 36th minute, the number 10 capitalized on a goalkeeper rebound inside the area, calmly slotting home to open the scoring for the São Paulo side. The goal gave Santos a much-needed boost, both in confidence and momentum.
Just three minutes later, in the 39th minute, Álvaro Barreal doubled the lead. Left unmarked in the penalty area, the midfielder took advantage of a deflected shot that landed kindly at his feet, making no mistake to fire Santos into a 2-0 lead.
Juventude Fight Back
Though reeling from the quick double blow, Juventude showed resilience. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Marcelo Hermes delivered a pinpoint corner, and defender Wilker Ángel rose above the Santos defense to head home and reduce the deficit to 2-1. The goal energized the Gaúchos heading into the break, keeping the contest alive.
Second Half: Neymar Seals It
The second half saw a more aggressive Juventude side pushing for an equalizer, while Santos began to show signs of nervousness again. Misplaced passes and defensive lapses offered opportunities to the visitors, but they failed to capitalize.
Ironically, it was during one of Juventude’s most threatening moments that their defense crumbled. A chaotic sequence of defensive mistakes gave Santos a chance to break forward, eventually resulting in a penalty after a clear foul in the box. Neymar stepped up and coolly converted in the 84th minute, sealing the win and completing his brace.
Neymar’s Long-Awaited Brilliance
🔥Neymar scored his first brace since rejoining Santos, stepping up in a key match to help push the team away from relegation.
Welcome back 👏✨pic.twitter.com/wjW5NlIhLn
— Olasport_ (@Olasport_) August 5, 2025
Neymar’s performance was not only vital for the team’s result but also a personal milestone. It was his first brace for a club since August 2022, when he scored twice for PSG in their 7-1 demolition of Lille. Additionally, this was the first time since 2022 that Neymar managed to complete five consecutive club appearances—proof of improving fitness and consistency.
The last time he scored more than one goal in a match was nearly two years ago, during the 5-1 victory over Bolivia in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, under coach Fernando Diniz’s debut for the Brazilian national team.
Now, with national team selectors keeping a close eye on his form, Neymar’s timely resurgence could not have come at a better moment.
📅 Brasileirão 2025 – Round 19 Fixtures (Brasília Time)
🗓 Saturday, August 9
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🕡 6:30 PM – Flamengo vs. Mirassol
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🕡 6:30 PM – São Paulo vs. Vitória
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🕡 6:30 PM – RB Bragantino vs. Internacional
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🕗 8:30 PM – Fortaleza vs. Botafogo
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🕘 9:00 PM – Bahia vs. Fluminense
🗓 Sunday, August 10
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🕓 4:00 PM – Vasco vs. Atlético-MG
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🕓 4:00 PM – Palmeiras vs. Ceará
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🕡 6:30 PM – Cruzeiro vs. Santos
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🕗 8:30 PM – Grêmio vs. Sport
🗓 Monday, August 11
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🕗 8:00 PM – Juventude vs. Corinthians
Table Shake-Up
With this win, Santos reached 18 points and moved up to 15th place, finally stepping out of the relegation zone. It was a crucial result in a season where every point counts, especially given the tight standings in the bottom half of the table.
Vasco da Gama, with 15 points, now finds itself in the 17th position, falling into the danger zone as a result of Santos’ rise. Juventude, meanwhile, remain stuck in 19th place with just 11 points, and their hopes of survival are rapidly fading unless they can turn things around in the final stretch of the season.
This result could mark a turning point for Santos, especially if Neymar continues to build momentum. The fans at MorumBIS left the stadium relieved and hopeful—two feelings that have been rare in their 2025 campaign so far.
With just one more round left in the first half of the season, Santos’ path to safety remains narrow but achievable. And with Neymar regaining form, Peixe may just have the spark they need to finish strong.
