Santos vs Mirassol – News and Probable Lineups

Santos is set to host Mirassol at Vila Belmiro on Sunday during round 24 of the 2026 Brasileiro, as both teams look to earn crucial points to distance themselves from the relegation area.

The squads come into this match following different outcomes in continental competitions, with Santos moving onto the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals while Mirassol was knocked out of the Libertadores by LDU Quito on penalties, now needing to shift focus back to their domestic league.

Match overview

Santos welcomes Mirassol at a time when they are feeling more confident. The 3-0 victory away at Vasco snapped a three-match winless streak in the Brasileiro. With 25 points, Peixe holds the 14th position and understands that another win could create a significant gap from the relegation zone.

Moreover, their progress in the Copa Sudamericana has boosted the team’s morale. Santos secured a 2-1 win against Macara at home and managed to maintain a 0-0 draw in Ecuador to advance to the quarter-finals. In the Brasileiro, the attack is currently performing well, having netted nine goals over the past five matches.

However, consistently winning at Vila Belmiro has been elusive for Santos. They hold a record of five wins, three draws, and four losses at home across 12 matches, reflecting a 50% success rate. In contrast, the head-to-head history against Mirassol is strongly favorable: Peixe has never lost at home to this opponent, boasting eight wins and two draws from 10 encounters.

For this fixture, Cuca is anticipated to utilize several key players from the squad. Neymar, Gabigol, Igor Vinicius, and Barreal were rested during the match against Macara and are likely to return to the starting XI. With the Sudamericana temporarily on hold, Santos is turning its attention back to the Brasileirao.

In contrast, Mirassol finds itself in a different context. After their exit from the Copa Libertadores on Thursday, the team left Quito with reasons to feel positive. They managed to secure a 0-0 draw with LDU after regulation time but were ultimately eliminated 5-4 in the penalty shootout, concluding their first-ever participation in the tournament at the last-16 stage.

Despite the setback, Rafael Guanaes expressed high praise for Mirassol’s display. The head coach described the performance against LDU as nearly perfect from a tactical perspective, emphasizing the team’s organization, particularly regarding their ability to compete in Quito’s high altitude. Guanaes believes that this performance should be seen as a model for the remainder of the season, with the focus now on the Brasileirao.

In terms of the domestic league, Mirassol must respond positively. The Leao Caipira currently sits with 23 points in 17th place, just inside the relegation zone. In their previous round, they suffered a 5-1 defeat at home to Flamengo, and they enter the match against Santos under substantial pressure to perform.

Their away form has also been a concern. In 10 away fixtures in this Serie A campaign, Mirassol has managed only one win, yielding a success rate of 17%. After the demanding trip to Ecuador and the exhausting match against LDU, Rafael Guanaes now faces the task of ensuring his squad is physically prepared for their return to action in the Brasileirao.

Team News

Cuca will be without four players for this upcoming match. Left-back Vinicius Lira, midfielder Gabriel Menino, center-back Lucas Verissimo, and attacking midfielder Gabriel Bontempo are all unavailable due to injuries.

Additionally, six Santos players are at risk of yellow card suspensions. Luan Peres, Escobar, Joao Schmidt, Thaciano, Barreal, and Gabriel Barbosa each have two bookings and will miss the next round if they receive another yellow card.

On the other hand, Mirassol will also be missing four players. Negueba, Edson Carioca, and Aldo Filho are sidelined with injuries, while Denilson is suspended following his third yellow card.

Five other players from Mirassol need to be cautious about accumulating more yellow cards. Lucas Oliveira, Reinaldo, Victor Luis, Alex Muralha, and Alesson are all under the threat of suspension and could miss the next match if cautioned against Santos.

Santos probable starting XI:

Gabriel Brazao; Igor Vinicius, Willian Arao, Luan Peres, Escobar; Christian Oliva, Joao Schmidt; Caballero, Neymar, Alvaro Barreal; Gabriel Barbosa. Coach: Cuca.

Mirassol probable starting XI:

Walter; Igor Formiga, Joao Victor, William Machado, Reinaldo; Neto Moura, Shaylon, Japa; Eduardo, Alesson, Bruno Santos. Coach: Rafael Guanaes.

Santos enters this match as the favorites, buoyed by their solid historical record against Mirassol and the imminent returns of key attacking talents like Neymar and Gabriel Barbosa enhancing their chances.

With home advantage and superior quality in the attack, Santos is expected to have the upper hand in what promises to be an exciting match, and a 3-1 victory is anticipated for the hosts.