Neymar’s Brace Not Enough as Return Round Leaves Santos and Vasco Tangled Near Relegation

Overview

• Neymar scored twice in Santos’s 2-2 draw with Chapecoense at Vila Belmiro on Saturday but the result left Santos 14th with 22 points and Neymar suspended for the next league match after picking up a booking.
• Vasco could not win at São Januário on Saturday, drawing 1-1 with Mirassol after Andrés Gómez’s late equaliser and remaining in the relegation zone in 17th with 21 points.
• Athletico strengthened its top-three push by beating Internacional 2-0 at Arena da Baixada, moving into third place with 36 points after goals from Leozinho and Viveros.
• The second half of the season continues with Remo vs Vitória and Flamengo vs São Paulo scheduled to follow, with Flamengo occupying second place on 37 points and São Paulo sitting 12th on 25 points.
• The World Cup break returned several players to action while suspensions and Copa Sudamericana commitments for clubs such as Santos and Vasco force rotation that could decide relegation, Libertadores qualification and short-term form.