Is Neymar back to struggling with injuries? Just as he was regaining his rhythm with Santos, the Brazilian star was forced to leave the pitch injured.
Neymar (33) played a crucial role in Santos’ qualification for the Paulista Championship semi-finals, scoring a stunning free kick in a 2-0 victory over Bragantino on Sunday. Since returning to his boyhood club in January, he has continued to shine on set pieces, registering three goals and three assists, with five of those contributions coming from dead-ball situations.
Despite his decisive performance, Neymar had to be subbed off in the 76th minute, visibly feeling discomfort in his left thigh, where he later applied an ice pack. A serious injury? Not likely, but Santos is holding its breath.
After the match, Neymar emphasized the importance of set pieces in key moments: “This is what makes a champion team. We train for this, and we showed it today.”
When asked about his preferred semi-final opponent, Neymar remained unfazed: “Obviously, we don’t want to face the strongest teams, but they fear me more than I fear them.”
Santos now awaits their next challenge, hoping their star playmaker will be fit for the remainder of the competition.
