Santos – Corinthians: Neymar underperforms, Memphis scores his first goal in the year and counterattacks define draw (1-1)

Another clash between two giants of Brazilian football took place. Santos and Corinthians drew in a match valid for matchday 6 of the Brasileirão. The game was decided in the first half, with two counterattack goals. Dutch player Memphis Depay scored his first goal after 10 matches in 2026, while Neymar did not play well in his last chance to be called up to the Brazil National Team, even providing an “accidental” assist.

Tactical analysis and match report by Marcus Arboés.

With Vojvoda suspended, Gastón Liendo led Santos from the touchline. The starting lineup only had the absence of defensive midfielder Zé Rafael. Therefore, in a 3-1-4-2 outline, the team lined up as follows: Brazão (former Internazionale) in goal; Frias, Zé Ivaldo and Luan Peres as the back three; the recently signed Oliva alongside Gustavo Henrique and Gabriel Bontempo as a midfield trio; Barreal on the left wing, Rony on the right wing, Neymar as the number ten and Gabriel Barbosa, or Gabigol, former Benfica and Internazionale, as the striker.

With more impactful absences, former Brazil National Team coach Dorival Junior had to line up his team without Yuri Alberto. Because of that, he once again set up Corinthians in a 4-3-3: Hugo Souza (Brazil National Team) as goalkeeper; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista (former Valencia), Gustavo Henrique (former Santos) and Matheus Bidu in the defensive line; Raniele, Carrillo (Peru National Team) and Breno Bidon in midfield; André on the left wing, Kaio César (former Al Hilal) on the right wing and Memphis Depay (former Lyon and Barcelona) as a false nine.

Santos’ initial high press

Managing Neymar and Gabigol in the same team is already a difficult task to ensure defensive solidity. Now imagine doing that with three centerbacks and no fullbacks. The team’s strategy, starting from a 3-1-4-2 shape both in and out of possession, was to suffocate Corinthians with a frenetic style. In the defensive phase, they executed a very effective high block press in the first half, even with Neymar and Gabigol, who are not known for strong defensive intensity.

Corinthians buildup in a 3-4-3 formation against Santos’ high press in a 3-1-4-2 shape.

Corinthians is a team that likes to attack through close support and quick passes toward goal. With a midfield full of players, they usually generate advantages by overloading one side. Because of that, Santos’ strategy was to press higher, suffocating the opponent from the goalkeeper’s first touch. This worked at first and was Santos’ biggest positive highlight in the match.

Starting from a 4-3-3 outline with a false nine, Dorival Junior’s Corinthians adapts in the short buildup by dropping Raniele, or sometimes Carrillo and later Allan, between the centerbacks to create an advantage in the first line. This allows the more technical midfielders to position themselves behind the first pressing line to create passing lanes inside, while the fullbacks stay very wide in the outer corridors. The idea is to progress through quick triangles on the flanks, using the support of the wingers and Memphis Depay dropping deeper with his back to goal.

But none of that worked because Santos’ high pressing block was very effective. Neymar and Gabi applied the first pressure, alternating between marking the centerbacks or the defensive midfielder in the first line. In the second line, the fullbacks were tracked by Barreal and Rony, while the other midfielders were marked man-to-man by the young Bontempo and Gustavo Henrique. This forced Corinthians into more direct long balls toward the attackers, who were well neutralized by Santos’ centerbacks and still had their work disrupted by Oliva, who was responsible for covering the midfielders or doubling up with one of the centerbacks.

Santos offensive organization in a 3-1-4-2 formation against Corinthians’ defense in a 4-3-3 shape.

If Oliva was the key player in how Santos chose to defend, he was also crucial in their buildup. Santos built up in a 3+1 structure, with two wide centerbacks forming a narrow triangle, tightly marked by Corinthians’ three attackers, and Oliva acting as the initial playmaker behind the first pressing line. His role was to receive on the half-turn to initiate plays, either by looking for long passes and switches or finding Neymar dropping into space created by Gustavo or Bontempo’s movements. When he did not do that, he served as support for the outer centerbacks to attempt long balls in a more direct approach toward the wingers or Gabigol.

To deal with this more direct positional attacking model, Corinthians, as mentioned, defended through man-oriented marking from a 4-3-3 formation, but with medium tracking rather than aggressive chasing, maintaining the defensive structure to protect the central corridor where Neymar operates most. With midfielders matched against midfielders, fullbacks against wingers and attackers against centerbacks, the centerback pair focused on protecting the last line, while Raniele, as the spare man, tracked Neymar’s movements and was very important in neutralizing the number ten, who misplaced many passes.

The focus was more on counterattacks, but the goal came from a corner. André started the move, escaped his marker and passed to Kaio César, who found Memphis Depay. In 2026, he had gone ten matches without scoring, with only one assist. Under pressure from Corinthians fans, the Dutchman stepped up in the derby and scored a great goal.

Will Neymar play the World Cup?

Corinthians played better and deserved to take the lead, even if the goal came early. While Memphis delivered, Santos’ star did not shine. This match was important because there is a strong discussion around Neymar’s potential call-up, but Ancelotti did not include him in the Brazil National Team friendlies, believing he is not yet physically ready. Once again, that seemed evident.

Corinthians attack in a 4-3-3 formation with a false nine against Santos’ defense in a 5-3-2 outline.

As previously described, Corinthians attacked from a 4-3-3 outline with Memphis Depay as a false nine, trying to overload one side of the pitch to progress through short vertical passes or by switching play to the opposite side’s midfielder or fullback. Most of their creation came from the left side, where Breno Bidon, Matheus Bidu and Memphis are more creative.

Santos defended in a 5-3-2 formation. Without fullbacks, Rony and Barreal dropped into the last line and were responsible for marking wide players, while the back three coordinated to track players moving inside. Neymar and Gabigol had less responsibility in pressing the first line, which used support from Raniele or other midfielders to build up. Preserved physically, the number ten did not contribute much overall, but still made a key defensive action.

Neymar intercepted a pass, taking advantage of a buildup mistake by the opponent. The ball deflected off him and went toward Gabriel, who advanced quickly and scored the equalizer in open space. That mistake leading to the counterattack did not happen again afterward, Corinthians played well, but what defined the first half tactically ended up setting the tone for the entire match.

Takeaways

In his last opportunity to be called up for the final friendlies before the World Cup period, Neymar failed to show good physical condition and, even if he had performed well, he likely would not have been selected. While discussions about his call-up continue, Santos drew and sits in fourteenth place in the Brasileirão, with Internacional as their next opponent.

With two more points, Corinthians remains mid-table in eighth place. Their next challenge under Dorival will be away from home, but in another state, as they face Chapecoense for matchday 7 of the Brasileirão.