Santos has absolutely stalled in their hunt for a Libertadores spot, pulling in just six points from the last 18 available in the Brasileirão. Sure, they pulled away from the relegation zone and started looking up the table, but that recent form has kept Peixe from closing in on the league’s current top six. Now, the mission is crystal clear: put together a positive run over the final four rounds with a Libertadores spot still in sight.
The Brutal Reality of the Standings
Currently, Santos sits ninth in the Brasileirão with 47 points. That puts them six points behind Bahia, who are comfortably in sixth place and holding a coveted spot in the qualifying rounds. Here’s the kicker: there are no more head-to-head clashes with direct rivals on the horizon. That means Santos needs to take care of business themselves, and ideally, they need to snag all 12 points from their remaining four games. A return to the Libertadores, which they last played in 2021, is massive. We’re talking about crucial stuff, like keeping stars Neymar, Gabigol, Coutinho, Artur, and Cebolinha on the squad. They’re even factoring in the possibility of the top six becoming the top seven for Libertadores qualification.
Four Finals Ahead for Peixe
The Black and Whites are staring down four absolute finals to end the season on a positive note after so much suffering. What a gauntlet, right? They’re facing three straight games against teams that are also fighting for their lives, threatened with relegation. Every single one of these matches is going to be a battle.
Here’s the breakdown of what Santos has left on the schedule:
- November 18 vs Coritiba (13th) at Couto Pereira
- November 23 vs Grêmio (18th) at Vila Belmiro
- November 29 vs Vitória (15th) at Barradão
- December 2 vs Botafogo (12th) at Vila Belmiro
First up is Coritiba, and Santos absolutely needs to kick off this final stretch with a win. These four games are everything for their Libertadores dreams and the future of the squad. Can they find that positive run when it matters most? Every point is going to be a fight, and every match is going to be a spectacle.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply