In the 18th round of the Brasileirao, Santos secured a 3-1 victory against Juventude, thanks to a standout performance from Neymar. The midfielder showcased his scoring prowess with a stunning strike at the 36-minute mark and later converted a penalty in the second half at the 34th minute. Álvaro Barreal also contributed to the scoreline, finding the back of the net in the 39th minute, leaving Juventude’s defense scrambling.
Wilker Ángel of Juventude had a chance to respond just before halftime, sending a header towards goal in the 45th minute, but his effort did not result in a goal.
Both teams had opportunities that struck the woodwork, with Álvaro Barreal and Ênio failing to convert their chances into goals.
Santos goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão delivered a remarkable performance, stopping 9 shots throughout the match, ensuring his team’s lead remained intact.
Neymar was also impressive, not only scoring two goals but also attempting six shots during the game, further illustrating his importance to the team’s attacking strategy.
Coach Cléber Xavier deployed Santos in a 4-5-1 formation, featuring Gabriel Brazão in goal; a defensive line of Igor Vinícius, Gil, Luan Peres, and Souza; a midfield formed by João Schmidt, Gabriel Bontempo, Benjamín Rollheiser, Neymar, and Álvaro Barreal; with Tiquinho Soares leading the attack.
On the other hand, Juventude, managed by José Gérson Ramos, lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Ruan Carneiro as the goalkeeper; Reginaldo, Wilker Ángel, Marcos Paulo, and Marcelo Hermes in defense; Caíque Gonçalves, Jádson, and Luis Mandaca in midfield; and a forward trio of Ênio, Gilberto, and Gabriel Verón.
Referee Paulo Zanovelli da Silva oversaw the match proceedings.
Looking ahead, Santos will face Cruzeiro away next, while Juventude will host Vasco da Gama. As it stands, Santos occupies the 15th spot in the standings with 18 points, whereas Juventude remains in the 19th position with 11 points.
Substitutions for Santos
45’ 2T – Benjamín Rollheiser was replaced by Mayke
63’ 2T – Igor Vinícius was replaced by Gustavo Caballero
72’ 2T – João Schmidt was substituted for Zé Rafael and Tiquinho Soares for Luca Meirelles
84’ 2T – Álvaro Barreal was subbed off for Gonzalo Escobar
Yellow cards for Santos:
28’ 1T Gabriel Bontempo, 33’ 1T Benjamín Rollheiser, and 7’ 2T Neymar
Substitutions for Juventude
64’ 2T – Gilberto left the field for Gabriel Taliari and Gabriel Verón for Emerson Batalla
74’ 2T – Wilker Ángel was replaced by Abner
82’ 2T – Ênio came off for Marlon and Caíque Gonçalves for Daniel Giraldo
Yellow cards for Juventude:
5’ 1T Marcos Paulo, 21’ 1T Wilker Ángel, and 7’ 2T Caíque Gonçalves