21 Aug 2026
Palmeiras vs Santos Head-to-Head: History, Derbies and How to Analyse the Fixture
Palmeiras and Santos contest one of the most traditional fixtures in São Paulo football. The head-to-head record includes matches in the São Paulo State Championship, Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil, Libertadores and historic tournaments, with periods of balance and advantages that vary depending on the timeframe considered.
Palmeiras vs Santos head-to-head history
Palmeiras and Santos have faced each other since 1915 in a derby known as the Clássico da Saudade. The long-running series includes more than 300 official and friendly matches, with totals varying slightly depending on whether sources include or exclude matches from defunct tournaments. Palmeiras lead the overall win tally in widely used records, while Santos have secured important victories in finals and historic campaigns.
Why head-to-head figures may vary
There is no single total across all historical databases. Some records include friendlies, Rio-São Paulo Tournament matches and older state competitions; others list only official fixtures. There are also differences concerning abandoned matches, tournaments with specific regulations and international competition fixtures. When comparing figures, check the update date, the criteria used and whether the source separates home and away records.
Memorable Palmeiras vs Santos encounters
The derby has carried significance in several eras. In the 1960s, Pelé’s Santos and Palmeiras’ Academia competed for national and São Paulo state titles. In 2015, Santos beat Palmeiras on penalties to win the Copa do Brasil after overturning the deficit in the second leg. In 2021, Palmeiras defeated Santos 1–0 in the Libertadores final at the Maracanã, with Breno Lopes scoring in second-half stoppage time.
How to read the derby’s recent head-to-head record
Looking at the most recent matches is more useful for current analysis than the overall record accumulated over more than a century. Consider the last five to ten fixtures, goals scored and conceded, venues and competition stage. Lineups, absences, the fixture schedule and each club’s current form also matter. A team may trail in the overall record and still be better prepared for a specific match.
Palmeiras vs Santos by competition and home advantage
Separating the data helps avoid hasty conclusions. In the São Paulo State Championship, the derby tends to carry greater weight in knockout ties and decisive rounds. In the Brasileirão, home form becomes important because Palmeiras and Santos often play at different stadiums and in different contexts. In knockout competitions, the aggregate score, any goal-difference rules and a potential penalty shootout change how the fixture should be assessed.
Conclusion: where to follow the pre-match analysis
The Palmeiras vs Santos head-to-head record provides useful context, but lineups, recent form and the competition regulations define the outlook for each match more clearly. A complete pre-match analysis of this fixture is available at pksport.net, with information to follow the derby.
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Analysis: PK Sport · our methodology
Analysis based on public data and market signals. For analysis only — not betting advice.