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Neymar Explains Unexpected Absence as Santos Fall 3-0 to Palmeiras in Copa do Brasil

Neymar has opened up about his unexpected absence during Santos’ 3-0 loss to rivals Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil round-of-16 first leg. The 34-year-old forward was left out of the matchday squad, raising questions after Santos struggled without him at Nubank Parque.

Flaco Lopez Leads Palmeiras to Victory

Santos suffered a harsh defeat on Wednesday night as Palmeiras took full advantage of Neymar’s absence. Flaco Lopez gave the home side the lead with a powerful long-range shot, followed by Andreas Pereira scoring from a loose ball just before halftime. Lopez sealed the win with a second-half header off a cross from Agustin Giay, handing Palmeiras a comfortable 3-0 advantage.

Neymar Clarifies Reason Behind Absence

Initially included in the preliminary traveling list but dropped from the final squad, Neymar quickly dismissed rumors about fitness issues. Speaking directly to fans through an Instagram comment, he said: "I was available to play! It was a decision by the coaching staff, due to the sequence of games we have."

Heavy Schedule Prompts Squad Rotation

The decision to rest Neymar came after he completed three straight full matches against Macara, Vasco da Gama, and Mirassol. Without him on the pitch and Gabigol coming off the bench late, Santos found it difficult to penetrate Palmeiras’ solid defense and struggled to create scoring chances. Palmeiras nearly extended their lead further, but both Giay and Mauricio missed clear one-on-one opportunities.

Upcoming Challenges for Santos

Santos now face a tough challenge ahead. They must regroup quickly for an away derby against Corinthians in the Campeonato Brasileiro this weekend. After that, they will host Palmeiras for the second leg at Vila Belmiro needing to overturn a three-goal deficit, followed by a trip to Internacional. Neymar’s return is crucial to boost the team’s attack and keep their cup hopes alive.

  • Serie A Match: Corinthians vs Santos FC
  • Date & Time: 30 Aug 2026, 21:00
  • Serie A Match: Santos FC vs Mirassol
  • Date & Time: 30 Aug 2026, 23:30
  • Palmeiras vs Santos FC Copa do Brasil First Leg Result: Palmeiras 3 - 0 Santos FC

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