Santos vs Vitoria - prediction, team news, lineups

On Saturday, May 30, Santos and Vitoria conscionable astatine the iconic Estadio Vila Belmiro successful the 18th circular of the 2026 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A. The fixture marks the last lucifer for some clubs earlier the World Cup break, with Santos looking to determination further distant from the relegation portion against a Vitória broadside that has emerged arsenic 1 of the season’s astonishment packages.

On estimation and past alone, Santos would people beryllium viewed arsenic favourites. However, caller form, important absences and the caller head-to-head grounds suggest a acold much balanced contest, with some teams possessing a realistic accidental of claiming each 3 points.

Match preview

Santos are enduring 1 of the astir hard periods successful their caller Brasileirao history. The nine beryllium 17th with 18 points, firmly successful the relegation zone, and respect this fixture arsenic important to climbing distant from the bottommost of the array earlier the contention pauses. Pressure from the supporters astatine Vila Belmiro grows with each passing round.

Across 17 matches, Santos person recorded 4 wins, six draws and 7 defeats. They conceded six goals successful their past 2 outings, losing 3–0 to Coritiba and 3–2 to Gremio — results that person exposed a important antiaircraft frailty and raised superior questions astir the squad's quality to respond nether pressure.

Cuca returned to the nine successful March for his 4th spell successful charge, replacing Juan Pablo Vojvoda with the squad already successful the driblet zone. Despite going much than a period without decision — a tally of 3 wins and six draws — the manager has yet to find the consistency and ratio the concern demands.

His points-per-game instrumentality successful the Brasileirao remains beneath 40 per cent. In 5 caller matches, Santos took the pb and were incapable to clasp on.

Qualification for the Copa Sudamericana play-off circular offered immoderate relief, but the home concern continues to request the club's afloat attention.

Vitoria get successful a considerably much comfy position. The nine beryllium 11th with 22 points and travel into this lucifer connected the backmost of a 2–0 location triumph implicit Internacional. That effect boosted assurance and extended their spread supra the relegation places.

Jair Ventura has earned wide recognition for the translation helium has overseen. Vitoria spent clip successful the apical 10 and, earlier the halfway constituent of the season, had already surpassed their full points tally from the full archetypal fractional of 2025. The squad continues to vie efficaciously contempt its limitations.

Beyond their beardown league campaign, Vitoria reached the Copa bash Nordeste last aft eliminating ABC with sizeable ease.

Ventura has spoken openly astir his squad's tendency to triumph a trophy successful 2026, a stated ambition that has contributed to the affirmative temper wrong the camp.

Even erstwhile facing technically superior opposition, Vitoria person demonstrated tactical flexibility. Against Fluminense, they held their ain successful possession for extended periods, portion Ventura showed willingness to set his attacking signifier arsenic the crippled demanded. Erick remains the team's superior originative and violative reference.

Santos Brasileiro form:

L D D W L L

Santos signifier (all competitions):

W W L D L W

Vitoria Brasileiro form:

D L W D L W

Vitoria signifier (all competitions):

D W L W W W

Team News

Santos look respective important absences. Neymar is ruled retired aft suffering a calf musculus wounded and volition not play again for the nine earlier the World Cup. The nonaccomplishment of the fig 10 is simply a large stroke some successful method presumption and successful presumption of enactment connected the pitch.

Beyond Neymar, Cuca is besides without Benjamin Rollheiser, who is recovering from a muscular problem, and Gustavo Henrique, who is suspended. Joao Schmidt, Gabriel Menino and Thaciano stay successful the attraction room, further stretching the disposable options.

Vitoria besides get with an extended wounded list. Approximately 10 players volition beryllium unavailable to Jair Ventura for the travel to Vila Belmiro. Defender Caca is suspended, portion Camutanga, Riccieli and Edu Ribeiro proceed their respective recoveries.

The absentees widen to the full-back positions, with some Ramon and Mateusinho missing. In midfield, Dudu and Ruben Ismael are sidelined, portion Anderson Pato and Pedro Henrique are besides unavailable successful attack.

Santos imaginable starting lineup:

Gabriel Brazao; Igor Vinicius, Adonis Frias, Luan Peres, Escobar; Willian Arao, Oliva; Rollheiser, Gabriel Bontempo, Barreal; Gabigol. Manager: Cuca.

Vitoria imaginable starting lineup:

Lucas Arcanjo; Nathan Mendes, Neris, Luan Candido, Jamerson; Caique, Ze Vitor, Emmanuel Martinez; Rene, Matheuzinho, Erick. Manager: Jair Ventura.

We say: Santos 2-1 Vitoria

Despite an inconsistent campaign, Santos person a invaluable accidental to regain momentum astatine the Estadio Vila Belmiro. Their precarious league presumption should guarantee a high-intensity performance, portion the backing of the location assemblage could supply an further assistance successful a important fixture earlier the World Cup break.

Vitoria, meanwhile, get with a depleted squad and the accumulated fatigue of a demanding caller schedule. In what is expected to beryllium a intimately contested lucifer with constricted clear-cut chances, location vantage whitethorn beryllium the decisive factor, with Santos narrowly favoured to unafraid a 2-1 victory.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.