RB Leipzig beat Neymar’s Santos in friendly to conclude summer tour to Brazil
RB Leipzig's end of season trip to the football-mad South American country of Brazil ended on a high, with a week of training and activities concluding in a friendly match victory against Neymar's Santos.
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Where did the tour take place?
São Paulo, Brazil (Red Bull Bragantino training facilities)
When were they there?
From 23 to 29 May
What friendly matches took place?
Leipzig held their first overseas tour to the USA in 2024
Heading for home
© IMAGO/Victor Hugo Aznar da Rocha
Nusa vs. Neymar
© RB Leipzig
Zsolt Lőw on the Santos experience
© RB Leipzig
The Bulls in Brazil
© RB Leipzig
Leipzig's Brazilian adventure comes to an end
© RB Leipzig
5:15
Watch: Santos 1-3 RB Leipzig - highlights
Stars reunited
© Bryon Hutchison/DFL
Full time: Santos 1-3 Leipzig
© RB Leipzig
End of second half
84'
Santos again
Hyan tears away down the right but his touch lets him down slightly, allowing a Leipzig defender to get back and block his attempted shot.
81'
Pace slowing down
All of the changes on both sides have affected things a bit here and they're both struggling for rhythm.
76'
Xavi with a knock
The Leipzig talisman is on the bench after being taken off and now has an ice pack strapped to his right ankle.
72'
Substitutions aplenty
More new faces on both teams.
71'
Santos pull one back
A nicely worked goal as Santos work the ball out to the left. It's crossed low into the middle, where Hyan is unmarked to tap in from close range.
65'
Xavi at the double!
The Dutchman makes it 3-0 with a first-time shot from around 10 yards out that deflects off a defender and bobbles in.
60'
Leipzig double their lead
After a quiet few minutes, Leipzig score again. Nusa receives the ball wide on the right and cuts it back into the middle for Openda, who strokes into the net from 10 yards out.
49'
More of the same
Leipzig are still hogging possession, Santos happy to sit back and soak up the pressure.
47'
Showboating
Xavi draws a cheer of approval from the crowd as he shows off some of his tricks, including standing on top of the ball.
46'
Peeeeep!
Wholesale changes on both sides as we get under way again.
Kick-off!
Half-time: Santos 0-1 Leipzig
© RB Leipzig
Half-time
44'
OFF THE POST!
There appears to be little danger when Ze Ivaldo receives the ball in a central position, about 35 yards out. He smashes a low, swerving effort at goal that beats Vandevoordt but hits the base of the post!
42'
Xavi with a chance
The Dutch attacker pops up on the left-hand side of the box again. He tries to take on his marker but the ball goes out for a goal kick.
38'
Wide from Baumgartner
Xavi wins a free-kick about 30 yards out. Raum takes it again and again floats it towards the back post. This time Baumgartner is there, but his first-time cross-shot goes wide of the upright.
33'
Chance out of nothing!
Neymar is at the heart of all of Santos' attacks and he creates a scoring chance out of the blue, pinging a long ball from the left over Bitshiabu and into the path of Tiquinho, who squeezes a shot at goal from an angle that Vandevoordt saves.
30'
Long-range effort!
Neymar spies Vandevoordt a long way off his line and launches a speculative effort from inside his own half. The goalkeeper scurries back into his box and casually controls the ball with his foot before passing to a teammate.
28'
Bitshiabu clears
Santos' patience almost pays off as Leipzig lose possession near the centre circle. The home side pounce and immediately sprint forward with four or five players. They get into the box but Bitshiabu comes across and pokes away the danger.
24'
Neymar magic
The crowd murmurs as Neymar receives the ball wide on the left and immediately sets off on one of his trademark dribbles, jinking this way and that. He makes good headway but his diagonal pass into the box isn't precise enough for a teammate, and Leipzig clear.
21'
Baumgartner pressing
Only a friendly? Someone clearly forgot to tell Baumgartner, who tirelessly sprints and harries the Santos defence as they try to build from the back, annoying the defenders and forcing them to lose possession.
Xavi and Neymar enjoy a pre-match embrace
© RB Leipzig
16'
Xavi with the opener!
Xavi receives the ball on the left from a short corner and he's given time and space to shimmy into the box and shoot. His effort takes a deflection and sails into the net.
15'
Leipzig almost in
Xavi sends Openda away done the left and his change of pass outfoxes his marker. His attempted cross to Seiwald in the middle is blocked though.
12'
First glimpse from Neymar
He's been quiet so far but the Santos talisman pops up on the left to take a free-kick. The box is crowded but he aims a curler towards the far corner and only narrowly gets his calculations wrong as the ball whistles wide of the far post.
10'
Opening for Baumgartner
Xavi threads a pass into the Austrian midfielder inside the box. He feints to shoot and then scurries around the outside of his marker before attempting a chip over the goalkeeper with his left foot. He gets the execution wrong though, and it's a comfortable save.
9'
Openda!
The Belgian sprints away from his marker to get to a long ball first. He's around the left-hand corner of the penalty area as he cuts inside onto his favoured right foot but his attempted shot is well blocked by a defender.
7'
Dominating possession
Leipzig are stroking the ball around comfortably in midfield, with Santos happy to let them have it. The Brazilian side only start to show an urgency to regain the ball once their visitors advance 10 yards or so into their half.
5'
Wasted opportunity
Xavi is brought down about 30 yards from goal in a central position. A free-kick is given and the playmaker looks set to have a pop at goal, but instead Raum floats a hopeful cross towards the back post, which Santos clear.
2'
Bitshiabu well placed
The home side string together some passes and find space down the right. A cross is delivered into the middle but Bitshiabu hoofs clear.
1'
Here we go!
Santos get the ball rolling!
Kick-off!
Slight delay
There are pre-match fireworks, photos and national anthems so kick-off is going to be a couple of minutes later than scheduled.
Warm-ups underway
The players are limbering up out on the pitch. We'll be up and running soon.
Friends to enemies
Having met up off the field earlier in the day, Xavi and Neymar will be on opposite sides of the pitch as both start today's friendly.
Santos starting XI
João Paulo - Chermont, Ze Ivaldo, Luisão, Escobar - Bontempo, Rollheiser, Thaciano, Barreal - Neymar, Tiquinho
Leipzig starting XI
Vandevoordt - Nedeljkovic, Orbán, Bitshiabu - Nusa, Kampl, Seiwald, Raum - Baumgartner, Xavi - Openda
Mutual respect
© RB Leipzig
Old friends
© RB Leipzig
1:55
Watch: Leipzig support local children in Brazil
Big match on Wednesday
Leipzig will be back at Red Bull Bragantino's Cicero De Souza Marques stadium on Wednesday as they become the first German team to play a match in Brazil in 25 years. They face Santos - once Pelé's club and now featuring Neymar - with kick-off at midnight (going into Thursday morning) German time.
1:31
Watch: David Raum's "Brazilian football heart"
Friendly support
© RB Leipzig
Surf like Šeško
© RB Leipzig
Back to school
© RB Leipzig
Löw on Klopp
© KERSTIN JOENSSON
"We need to freshen up the squad"
Löw also gave a potential explanation for the direction of Leipzig's recruitment for this summer:" We need to freshen up the squad. We want to add leaders and key players to the team. It's important that we find a good mix of talented and experienced players. We fell apart too often during tough times last season and threw away leads too easily."
Zsolt Löw on Atibaia
© motivio
Next stop: Atibaia
Leipzig's time in São Paulo came to an end on Monday as the team departed for Atibaia, where they will spend the rest of their tour. There, the club will use the facilities of partner Red Bull club, Red Bull Bragantino.
Hips don't lie
Leipzig completed their final evening in São Paulo with a samba workshop where the players had the opportunity to show off some of their best moves.
1:04
Watch: Leipzig play Altinha
Schlager and Seiwald meet NAKA
© RB Leipzig
Leipzig to wear special number design
A first glimpse of the numbering on the back of their shirts shows it's taken inspiration from the Brazilian flag and the club's relationship with Red Bull Bragantino. The club promises more information is to come, so watch this space!
© RB Leipzig
Klostermann gets goosebumps
The final at the Maracanã was the best game I've ever seen...[it] still gives me goosebumps today."
© RB Leipzig
"The passion is contagious"
Nicolas Seiwald was certainly excited by his visit to the museum, telling the club's website: "Seeing the magic moments of Brazilian football live was really cool. Brazil is simply known for its football-mad fans. This passion is totally contagious – it really gets you excited for the game!"
A journey through history
© RB Leipzig
Olá, Brasil
© RB Leipzig
1:02
Watch: Cunha's Bundesliga Goal of the Year winner in 2019
RB(razil) Leipzig: Matheus Cunha
© imago/Picture Point LE
Leipzig in Atibaia
On Monday, the players will travel to the town of Atibaia, to the north-east of São Paulo, where they will train at the facilities of partner club Red Bull Bragantino, with one session planned to be open to the public. Whilst in Atibaia, the players will be attending a top-flight fixture between Bragantino and Juventude, along with helping out with a social project in Bragança and witnessing a class in Capoeira (a Brazilian martial arts form). Leipzig will then finish off their trip with a friendly match against Neymar's Santos at the Cícero de Souza Marques Stadium. The game is scheduled to start at 00:00 CEST on Wednesday, 28 May. The following day, on the 29th, the players will be heading back to Leipzig.
Leipzig in São Paulo
© IMAGO/motivio
Leipzig's schedule
Leipzig's time in Brazil will be spent in two cities, São Paulo and Atibaia, with a variety of activities planned for both locations. The club will leave for São Paulo on the 23rd before staying in South America's largest city until the afternoon of Monday, 26th. The squad will then leave for Atibaia, where they will remain until the 29th, before returning home to Germany.
Leipzig in Brazil!
© RB Leipzig
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