Why Is Neymar Not Playing Tonight for Santos vs Bahia?

Neymar will be missing from the Santos lineup tonight as they head to the Arena Fonte Nova to face Bahia.

While his return to Brazilian football has been the talk of the season, fans in Salvador will have to wait to see the legendary forward back on the pitch.

This is a big game for both teams as they try to move up the table. Bahia is playing at home and they've been on a solid run lately, sitting comfortably near the top of the standings.

Known for their possession-heavy style, Rogério Ceni's men will try to dictate the tempo from the start and put Santos under immediate pressure.

On the other hand, Santos heads into this match looking to bounce back from a recent draw and will aim to keep things tight at the back.

Since they're on the road, Cuca's team is expected to sit deep and stay organized, waiting for the right moment to catch Bahia off guard with a quick counterattack.

Why Is Neymar Not Playing for Santos vs Bahia?

Neymar will be sidelined for tonight's fixture as he focuses on recovery, a move confirmed by his manager following the team's latest outing.

"Neymar has been performing well in terms of bursts of speed and distance covered at top speed," he said. "[Against Coritiba] He was a bit below par, I think because of the run of fixtures, no one can keep that up, not to mention the emotional strain."

"It's a different kind of match. There's no time to rest. Neymar will not play on Saturday so he can be in better condition for Argentina, which is a decisive game for us," Cuca said after Wednesday's 0-0 draw against Coritiba in the Copa do Brasil.

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 1:30 PM.