Neymar out as Palmeiras and Santos meet in Copa quarterfinal
DIRECT ANSWER: Neymar will not play for Santos in Wednesday's Palmeiras vs Santos Copa do Brasil quarterfinal first leg at Nubank Parque. He trained Tuesday but did not travel with the squad. Santos is preserving him over synthetic-turf concerns, yellow-card suspension risk, and ahead of Sunday's Corinthians match and the Sept. 2 return leg.
The Palmeiras vs Santos rivalry returns to the national stage with high stakes—and a major absence on the Peixe side. Neymar's exclusion reshapes tonight's tactical picture before the decisive second leg.
Key Takeaways
- Neymar is out of Santos' squad for the Copa do Brasil quarterfinal first leg at Nubank Parque on Aug. 26.
- Santos cited synthetic turf, joint load management, and two yellow cards as reasons to preserve its No. 10.
- Palmeiras enters unbeaten in São Paulo classics this season; Santos has not won a derby in 2026.
- The return leg is set for Sept. 2 at Vila Belmiro, where Neymar is expected to feature.
- TV Globo, sportv, Premiere, and Prime Video carry the match in most regions.
Why is Neymar out of Palmeiras vs Santos tonight?
Although Santos initially included Neymar among 25 related players, the club confirmed he and one teammate would be cut from the traveling squad. He trained at CT Rei Pelé on Tuesday but did not board the bus to São Paulo.
According to GE Globo, Neymar is reluctant to play on synthetic surfaces, believing ball speed and match rhythm change while the turf adds stress to his knee and joints.
He also carries two yellow cards in the competition. A booking tonight would trigger a suspension for the return leg at Vila Belmiro—a scenario Santos wants to avoid with the tie still open.
How do Palmeiras and Santos compare heading into this clash?
UOL describes this as a clash of opposites. Palmeiras is unbeaten in state classics this season with five wins and two draws, and leads the Brasileirão with 51 points—six clear of second-place Flamengo.
Santos, meanwhile, sits 14th with 26 points and has yet to win a derby in 2026, drawing three times and losing twice in the Paulistão while posting three 1-1 draws against rivals in the league.
Off the pitch, the gap is just as stark: Palmeiras is closing a major sale of Allan to Manchester City, while Santos remains under a transfer ban tied to unpaid fees for Jean Lucas from Monaco.
Where can you watch Palmeiras vs Santos?
Kickoff is Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time at Nubank Parque. Sporting News reports the first leg will air on TV Globo in most markets, plus sportv, Premiere, and Prime Video.
Viewers in Espírito Santo, Bahia, Pará, Sergipe, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Maranhão, Paraíba, and Minas Gerais will not get the match on open TV Globo in those states.
When will Neymar return for Santos?
Cuca can call on Neymar for the next two Santos fixtures. He is expected against Corinthians on Sunday at Neo Química Arena in the Brasileirão, then in the Copa do Brasil return leg on Sept. 2 at Vila Belmiro.
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