This was always going to be a test for Santos. Now it is a much harsher one. With Neymar suspended for two games by the STJD, the classic against Palmeiras at Vila Belmiro arrives without the one player Santos most wanted on the pitch and least wanted missing.
The timing could hardly be worse. On Wednesday, the STJD judged Neymar for violating the Protocolo Vini Jr. and handed down the suspension, which rules him out of Santos vs Palmeiras in the 33rd round at 19:30. That means Santos go into one of the biggest fixtures of the campaign without their camisa 10, and that is not a detail to shrug off.
What happened to Neymar?
The disciplinary case stems from the match against Bahia in the 32nd round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. During that game, Neymar was sent off after covering his mouth during a discussion with Rodrigo Nestor, and the incident opened the door to punishment under the Protocolo Vini Jr. The STJD has now acted, and the result is a two-game suspension that hits Santos at exactly the wrong moment.
There is a basic truth here: when a club builds its emotional and tactical identity around a player of Neymar’s stature, losing him is never just about losing one name from the team sheet. It changes the mood, the shape of the game and the burden on everyone else. Against Palmeiras, that burden gets heavier.
Which matches will he miss?
The suspension covers three matches in practical terms, with Neymar ruled out of the classic against Palmeiras and the next two Brasileirão games after that. Santos are preparing to face Palmeiras without their No. 10, and they will also have to get through the following league fixtures before he can come back into the picture.
The positive for Santos is that the wait will not be endless. After the November Data Fifa, Neymar is expected to be available again, with a possible return against Grêmio on 22 November. But that is cold comfort in the short term. For now, Santos have to survive a major classic without their star man, and those are the margins that often decide whether a season feels manageable or like it is slipping away.
Palmeiras will not care about the drama around the suspension. They will only care that Santos are weaker without Neymar. That is the reality of this decision, and it leaves Santos facing a classic with less firepower, less control and a lot more pressure than they would have wanted.
