São Paulo vs Santos: Coutinho Sparks Derby Win
Philippe Coutinho made an immediate impact in Santos’ derby comeback over São Paulo, while coach Cuca warned the veteran still needs more conditioning before…
Philippe Coutinho made an instant impact in São Paulo vs Santos, helping turn the derby at the MorumBIS into a 2-1 comeback win for Santos. The former Barcelona and Liverpool midfielder came off the bench and helped create the move that led to Gabriel Barbosa’s winner, according to Goal.
The result gave Cuca’s side a fifth straight league victory and tightened the chase for the Copa Libertadores places. It also added more weight to a simple question around Santos: how quickly can Coutinho be trusted for longer spells?
Coutinho changes the game
Goal reported that Coutinho entered at half-time in place of Alvaro Barreal and immediately added creativity to Santos’ attack. He evaded Robert Arboleda in the buildup to the decisive goal, a reminder of the quality that still makes him dangerous in tight games.
Cuca praised that influence after the match, but he did not hide the physical caution around his new signing. “We managed Coutinho’s minutes today, which wasn’t even meant to be as much as it was. But he already demonstrated his immense quality and was directly involved in the winning goal. I think things were managed very well,” the coach said.
He added that the midfielder is still building up to full fitness. “It has been a while since Coutinho last played. He is a consummate professional, looks after himself meticulously, and trains exceptionally well, but he is still going to build up his fit,” Cuca said.
That matters for Santos because the club cannot afford to rush him. When Coutinho stays on the pitch and influences the final third, Santos gain a sharper pass, calmer possession and a player who can change a derby in one touch. When he is short of conditioning, the staff have to manage every minute. Simple as that.
Neymar watch stays in focus
The broader Santos picture also includes Neymar, whose availability has become part of every match discussion. In a separate report from Yahoo Sports, Santos said Neymar was not in the squad for the match against Palmeiras, with coach Cuca citing concerns over the artificial pitch at Allianz Parque in São Paulo.
Cuca said, “Regarding the Palmeiras match, I don't know if I'll rely on Neymar or Gabigol, because of the issues you know about regarding their opinion on the artificial turf. We'll talk to them, and of course, if we can rely on them, we'll be stronger.”
Yahoo Sports also reported that Santos confirmed Neymar was not in the squad and that Brazilian reports suggested he did not want to risk injury as he still hopes for a national team call-up for the World Cup. It is a sharp reminder that Santos are balancing short-term results with fitness decisions on two of their biggest names.
BBC’s live match data also reflected the intensity of the derby, with Santos fielding Gabriel Barbosa, Rony and João Schmidt while the game featured cards and late changes on both sides. For Santos, though, the biggest number from this derby remains the same: 2-1.
Source: ge.globo.com
