Santos kicked off their 2026 Campeonato Paulista campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Grêmio Novorizontino on January 11. The win at Vila Belmiro was a positive start for the historic club, though they were made to work for the three points by a determined opponent. Santos took an early lead, but Novorizontino responded before halftime with a well-taken equalizer, setting up a tense second period. The decisive moment came in the final twenty minutes, as Santos found a winner to avoid a disappointing draw in their opening fixture. The result provided a crucial foundation for Santos's state championship ambitions, while Novorizontino's spirited performance suggested they would be a tough opponent for any team in the competition.