Santos vs Internacional – Brasileirão 2025, Round 16: Internacional Wins 2-1 on the Road
NEWS
In a thrilling Brasileirão 2025 Round 16 clash at Vila Belmiro, Internacional defeated Santos 2-1 with goals from Johan Carbonero and Rafael Borré. Despite Neymar’s efforts and a late goal from Santos’ Álvaro Barreal, the home team couldn’t equalize. This win marked Internacional’s first away victory of the season and boosted their league standing, while Santos remains near the relegation zone.
Santos vs Internacional – Brasileirão 2025, Round 16: Internacional Wins 2-1 on the Road
On July 23, 2025, the Brazilian Serie A (Brasileirão) saw a thrilling match at Vila Belmiro, Santos’ home stadium, where Internacional secured a vital 2-1 victory over Santos. This win marked Internacional’s first away win of the season and their third consecutive win overall, boosting their position in the league standings.
Match Overview
Internacional started strong and quickly took the lead, thanks to an early goal by Johan Carbonero in the 8th minute. Carbonero, a Colombian forward, used a clever dribble to beat Santos’ goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão and open the scoreline. This early goal gave Internacional confidence to control the game.
Later, in the second half, Rafael Borré, another Colombian playing for Internacional, extended the lead with a goal at the 74th minute (penalty). Borré’s cool finish solidified Internacional’s advantage and put pressure on Santos, who were struggling to find rhythm.
Santos tried hard to mount a comeback. Álvaro Barreal scored in injury time (46th minute of the second half) to reduce the deficit to 2-1. However, his late goal was not enough to prevent the defeat.
Key Moments and Standout Performances
Johan Carbonero was crucial for Internacional, scoring the opening goal and creating several dangerous chances.
Rafael Borré’s penalty goal gave Internacional a safe lead and showed their clinical edge.
Santos’ star player Neymar had some attempts on goal, including a powerful header comfortably saved by Internacional’s goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, and a few shots that narrowly missed or hit the post.
Despite Santos controlling possession and taking more shots, their finishing was not sharp enough to convert pressure into goals.
Victor Gabriel and other Internacional defenders held firm, blocking dangerous plays and protecting their lead.
Tactical Notes
Santos coach Cléber Xavier set the lineup in a 4-3-3 formation, putting Neymar and Deivid Washington among the main attacking threats.
Internacional, led by coach Roger Machado, responded with a balanced approach, focusing on quick counterattacks through their Colombian forwards Carbonero and Borré.
The defensive discipline of Internacional proved key in holding off Santos, who created more chances but were unable to capitalize.
Impact on the League Table
With this win, Internacional climbed to 10th place with 20 points, improving their chances to move further up the standings. On the other hand, Santos stayed in a difficult position near the relegation zone, remaining 17th with 14 points.
What’s Next?
Santos will look to recover in their next match against Sport Recife, aiming to gain crucial points to avoid relegation danger. Internacional will continue their campaign at home against Vasco da Gama, seeking to extend their winning streak and climb higher in the rankings.
This match showcased Internacional’s resilience and efficiency in finishing their chances, while Santos struggled to turn possession into goals despite Neymar’s efforts. The victory brought hope for Internacional’s season, while Santos faces pressure to improve results quickly.