Santos FC - EC Vitória live - Football

Santos FC host EC Vitória at the Estádio Urbano Caldeira in Matchday 18 of the 2026 Brasileirão Serie A - a fixture that carries enormous weight for Santos as they look to claw their way out of the relegation zone before the World Cup break.

Match Info: Santos FC vs EC Vitória

The match kicks off on Saturday, 31 May 2026, at 01:00 BST (00:00 UTC) at the Estádio Urbano Caldeira in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, as part of Matchday 18 of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2026.

Where to Watch Santos FC vs EC Vitória?

For viewers in the United States, the match is available online via Fanatiz USA. Those following from anywhere else in the world can stream the game through Fanatiz Brasileirão, which holds global rights to the competition outside Brazil.

In Brazil, the game is available across multiple platforms. Online viewers can tune in via Claro TV+, Globoplay, VIVO Play and Zapping. On television, both Premiere and SporTV carry the match - the two primary Brasileirão broadcasters in the country.

In Portugal, Canal 11 provides live television coverage of the match, as part of its regular schedule of Brazilian top-flight football for Portuguese-speaking audiences in Europe.

Santos FC vs EC Vitória - Match Preview

Two clubs heading in opposite directions meet at Vila Belmiro: Santos are rooted in the relegation zone with 18 points from 17 games, while Vitória arrive in 14th place with 22 points and a 4-win haul from their last 5 matches.

Santos FC are experiencing one of the most turbulent spells in their recent Brasileirão history. Manager Cuca, in his fourth stint at the club, returned in March and oversaw a brief unbeaten run, but consistency has since proved elusive. The team conceded 6 goals across their last 2 league outings - a 0-3 defeat to Coritiba and a 2-3 loss to Gremio - exposing a defensive fragility that opponents will seek to exploit. Adding to the problems, Santos head into this fixture without Neymar (calf injury), Rollheiser, the suspended Gustavo Henrique, and three further injured players: Joao Schmidt, Gabriel Menino and Thaciano.

Vitória, by contrast, arrive with confidence running high. Jair Ventura's side beat Flamengo 2-0 at home, demolished ABC 6-2 in the Copa do Nordeste, and followed that with a 2-0 league win over Internacional. The only blemish was a 0-2 defeat at RB Bragantino on 17 May. Vitória also secured a place in the Copa do Nordeste final with a 4-3 away win over ABC on 28 May, a result that underscores just how far this squad has come under Ventura in 2026.

Head-to-Head: Santos FC vs EC Vitória

Santos hold a commanding all-time head-to-head record against Vitória, but their 2025 meetings told a more balanced story - each side won once in the Brasileirão. That split suggests the historical advantage may count for less than current form at the Estádio Urbano Caldeira.

Here are the most recent meetings between the two sides:

• 21 October 2025 - Brasileirão Serie A - Santos FC 0:1 EC Vitória
• 25 May 2025 - Brasileirão Serie A - EC Vitória 0:1 Santos FC
• 6 October 2018 - Brasileirão Serie A - EC Vitória 0:1 Santos FC
• 3 June 2018 - Brasileirão Serie A - Santos FC 5:2 EC Vitória
• 17 October 2017 - Brasileirão Serie A - Santos FC 2:2 EC Vitória
• 22 June 2017 - Brasileirão Serie A - EC Vitória 0:2 Santos FC

Santos FC - Recent Form

Santos FC have recorded just 4 wins from 17 Brasileirão matches in 2026, sitting 17th with 18 points - a return that confirms a squad under severe pressure from supporters and from the table itself.

The scale of Santos' defensive problems became clear in their last 2 league games: the 0-3 defeat to Coritiba and the 2-3 loss to Gremio left the side conceding 6 goals in the space of 180 minutes. Cuca's points-per-game ratio in the league sits below 40 per cent, and in 5 recent fixtures Santos took the lead without being able to hold on. Qualification for the Copa Sudamericana play-off round provided some relief, but the relegation battle remains the squad's principal concern.

For this fixture, Santos must manage without Neymar, Rollheiser, the suspended Gustavo Henrique, and three further players - Joao Schmidt, Gabriel Menino and Thaciano - all sidelined through injury. With 7 defeats from 17 league games, the pressure on Cuca and the squad is considerable.

EC Vitória - Recent Form

EC Vitória have won 4 of their last 5 matches across all competitions, scoring 14 goals and conceding just 5 - a run of form that places them among the most dangerous sides in the division heading into the World Cup break.

The highlights of Vitória's recent run are striking for the quality of the opposition involved. On 15 May they beat Flamengo 2-0 at home - one of the results of the Brasileirão season. On 21 May they put 6 past ABC in the Copa do Nordeste, then followed that up with a clean-sheet 2-0 win over Internacional on 23 May. The sole defeat came at RB Bragantino (0-2, 17 May). A 4-3 away win over ABC on 28 May sealed their Copa do Nordeste final place.

Manager Jair Ventura has shaped a tactically flexible outfit capable of holding possession against technically superior opponents. Erick remains the squad's primary creative force, though Vitória will travel to Santos with approximately 10 players unavailable - among them suspended defender Caca and absentees Camutanga, Ramon, Mateusinho and Pedro Henrique.

Facts and Statistics

5 notable statistics about this Santos FC vs EC Vitória fixture:

• In 22 head-to-head meetings since 2004, Santos have won 12, Vitória have won 6, and 4 ended in a draw.
• Santos have conceded 6 goals in their last 2 Brasileirão matches - a 0-3 loss to Coritiba and a 2-3 defeat against Gremio.
• EC Vitória scored 14 goals in their last 5 matches across all competitions, including a 6-2 win over ABC in the Copa do Nordeste.
• In the last 11 head-to-head encounters, Santos won 9, Vitória won 1, and 1 ended level - one of the most one-sided records between two Brasileirão regulars.
• This is the final league match for both clubs before the FIFA World Cup break: Santos sit 17th with 18 points and Vitória are 14th with 22 points, separated by just 4 points.