Neymar Rested but Set to Start in Crucial Derby Against Corinthians

Santos breathed a sigh of relief on Friday as fears over Neymar Jr.'s fitness eased ahead of a crucial derby week.

The club captain missed tactical training at CT Rei Pelé after coming down with mild flu symptoms, sitting out just as Cuca was sharpening his game plan for the trip to fierce rivals Corinthians. For a few hours, the alarm bells rang. Then came the update Santos needed.

Reports indicate Neymar is expected back in training on Saturday and should remain available for selection in the clássico. The club’s medical department chose caution, pulling him from Friday’s session to avoid any deterioration before a season-defining stretch.

Santos confirmed the situation in an official note: “The athlete Neymar Jr. presented flu-like symptoms and was rested from Friday's (August 28) training session, following advice from the Health Department.”

It underlined how important he has become once again. Neymar has driven Santos’ attack this season, with nine goals and eight assists in 24 appearances, numbers that tell only part of the story of his influence on the pitch. When he plays, Santos look dangerous. When he doesn’t, the drop is brutal.

They know that all too well. The Peixe collapsed to a 3-0 defeat against Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil when they last had to cope without their captain, a result that left a deep mark and a three-goal mountain to climb in the quarter-final second leg.

Selection problems are piling up around him. Cuca will be without Joao Schmidt, suspended after an accumulation of bookings, while Gabriel Menino is ruled out with a knee sprain. The spine of the team is creaking at the worst possible time, making Neymar’s presence even more non-negotiable.

The timing could hardly be more tense. Santos head to Corinthians needing points just to keep their heads above water. The Campeonato Brasileiro relegation zone sits only two points below them, a constant threat lurking beneath every misplaced pass and every dropped point.

And the derby is only the start.

After facing Corinthians, Cuca’s side must attempt the improbable: overturning that three-goal deficit against Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil quarter-final second leg. Then comes a demanding away trip to Internacional, a fixture that closes this gruelling run before the domestic calendar pauses for the break.

Santos’ season now funnels into this tight, unforgiving stretch. With the margins this thin and the stakes this high, one question hangs over it all: how far can they go if Neymar is fit enough to carry them?