Internacional and Santos Draw 1-1 in Relegation Decider at Beira-Rio
When the final whistle blew at Estádio Beira-Rio on November 25, 2025, neither Sport Club Internacional nor Santos Futebol Clube could celebrate — just exhaustion, frustration, and the crushing weight of survival. The 1-1 draw wasn’t just another matchday result; it was a lifeline fraying at both ends. Relegation isn’t a threat in Brazilian football — it’s a shadow that follows teams like smoke behind a dying fire. And on this chilly Tuesday night in Porto Alegre, both clubs were gasping for air.
The Battle Lines
Alan Patrick dos Santos, the 30-year-old Brazilian attacking midfielder for Internacional, opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a curling left-footed shot that slipped past Santos’ keeper like a knife through butter. The crowd of 48,200 roared — for a moment, it felt like salvation was within reach. But football doesn’t reward hope. It rewards persistence. And Santos, the once-dominant club from São Paulo now clinging to Série A by its fingernails, showed why they’ve survived this long.
Álvaro Santiago Barreal, the 25-year-old Argentine left-back turned winger, equalized in the 62nd minute. He cut inside from the left, danced around two tackles, and fired low and hard. No celebration. No arms raised. Just a nod to his teammates. He’s been here before — scored in the July 23 meeting too, when Internacional won 2-1 thanks to Johan Carbonero and Rafael Santos Borré Lugo’s penalty. This time, Borré was on the bench, sidelined by injury. The story had changed. The stakes hadn’t.
Substitutions and Sentiment
The substitutions told the tale. Internacional brought on B. Rollheiser for G. Bontempo in the 79th minute — a defensive tweak, desperate. Santos responded with G. Prado for Á. Rodríguez in the 71st, pushing for an edge. At 64 minutes, both teams made double changes: Souza and R. Mathias came on for G. Escobar and R. Borré respectively. It was chess with cleats. Every pass, every shift, every tackle carried the weight of a potential drop to Série B.
The final minutes were pure chaos. Thaciano, Internacional’s center-back, fouled in the 90th. João Schmidt, Santos’ holding midfielder, committed another in the 90+6’. Six minutes of stoppage time. The fans held their breath. The players ran on fumes. When the referee blew the final whistle, the scoreboard read 1-1 — and the table? Even more brutal.
Why This Match Mattered
Before kickoff, both teams sat in the bottom six. Internacional was 17th, Santos 18th. With only four games left, every point was worth its weight in gold. A win for either side could’ve lifted them out of the relegation zone. A draw? It meant they stayed trapped. Santos had won just once in their last seven. Internacional had drawn five of their last eight. Neither had the rhythm of champions — only the desperation of the damned.
And that’s what made this match electric. Not the skill, not the tactics — though Barreal’s goal was sublime. It was the raw, unfiltered fear in every player’s eyes. This wasn’t about trophies. It was about paying the bills, keeping the academy alive, saving the club’s soul. Fans in Porto Alegre have seen this before — the 2019 relegation scare, the 2021 escape on goal difference. But this? This felt different. Younger. More fragile.
The Human Cost
Behind the stats and substitutions are people. Alan Patrick, who started his career in Brazil’s lower leagues, now carries the hopes of a 114-year-old club. Álvaro Barreal, born in Mendoza, Argentina, left his family to play in a league where he’s often booed — but he keeps scoring. Rafael Borré, Colombia’s most consistent striker in 2025, watched from the bench, his leg wrapped in ice, wondering if he’d ever play for Internacional again.
And then there’s the stadium — Estádio Beira-Rio. Officially named after José Pinheiro Borda, it’s more than concrete and steel. It’s where generations of Gaúchos learned to love football. When the lights dimmed after the match, the empty stands looked like graves.
What Comes Next
With four games remaining, Internacional faces Flamengo at home — a nightmare fixture. Santos travels to Cruzeiro, a team fighting for a top-four finish. Both need wins. Both need luck. Neither can afford another draw.
The league table after this match showed Flamengo still leading with 74 points, but the bottom six were separated by just three points. That’s a coin flip. One slip, one missed penalty, one late goal — and a club’s entire future changes. The Brazilian football pyramid doesn’t forgive. It swallows.
Historical Echoes
This isn’t the first time Santos and Internacional have battled in the relegation zone. In 2018, Santos survived on goal difference after a 0-0 draw with Internacional in the final round. In 2021, Internacional escaped on the last day, thanks to a last-minute goal from a substitute. History doesn’t repeat — but it rhymes. And this season? It’s screaming the same tune.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this draw affect Internacional’s chances of staying in Série A?
The 1-1 draw leaves Sport Club Internacional in 17th place with 31 points from 34 games. They’re just one point above the relegation zone, but with Flamengo, Botafogo, and Athletico-PR still to face, every point is a battle. A win against Flamengo next week could lift them to safety — but a loss or draw could sink them into the playoff spot for relegation.
Why is Álvaro Barreal so crucial to Santos’ survival?
Barreal has scored 8 goals in 2025 — half of Santos’ total in the league. He’s their only consistent attacking threat, and his ability to score from set pieces and counterattacks has kept them alive. Without him, Santos would’ve been relegated months ago. He’s not just a player — he’s their last hope.
What’s the historical significance of the Estádio Beira-Rio in this relegation battle?
The Estádio Beira-Rio has hosted 76% of Internacional’s home wins since 2020. But in 2025, it’s become a pressure cooker. Fans have turned on the team, and the 48,000-strong crowd on November 25 was the loudest — and most anxious — of the season. The stadium’s history of resilience mirrors the club’s fight: it survived near-demolition in 2007, and now, so does the team.
How does this result compare to past relegation deciders in Brazil?
In 2018, Santos and Internacional drew 0-0 in the final matchday — both survived. In 2021, Internacional won 2-1 on the last day to escape. This 1-1 draw is eerily similar to 2015, when Coritiba and Ceará drew 1-1 and both went down. The pattern is clear: in tight battles, draws often hurt both teams equally — and sometimes doom them.
Who are the likely teams to be relegated alongside Santos or Internacional?
With three games left, Fortaleza (19th) and Ceará (20th) are also in danger. Ceará has the worst defense in the league (58 goals conceded). If Internacional and Santos both lose their final two games, they’ll likely join them. But if either wins two of their last three, they could escape — and someone else will pay the price.
What role does the Betano sponsorship play in this relegation drama?
The Brasileirão Betano branding doesn’t change the rules, but it does change the money. Betano’s sponsorship boosted the league’s budget by 18% in 2025, meaning prize money for avoiding relegation is higher than ever — up to R$120 million for teams that stay up. That’s why clubs are fighting like their lives depend on it — because for many, they do.
pravin s
November 26, 2025 AT 21:19Man, I just watched the highlights and I’m still shaking. That Barreal goal? Pure poetry in motion. I don’t care if he’s Argentine - that’s the kind of player you build a club around. Santos might be down, but as long as he’s on the pitch, they’ve got a heartbeat.
Bharat Mewada
November 27, 2025 AT 17:06There’s something tragic about football when it’s not about glory, but survival. This match wasn’t played on grass - it was played on the edge of a cliff. Every tackle, every pass, every breath carried the weight of a thousand futures. The stadium didn’t just host a game - it held a funeral for dreams that haven’t died yet.
Ambika Dhal
November 28, 2025 AT 10:52Of course they drew. Of course. These clubs are run by clueless owners who think ‘branding’ replaces tactics. Betano sponsorship? Please. They’re just slapping a logo on a sinking ship and calling it ‘modernization.’ This isn’t football - it’s corporate performance art with cleats.
Bhavesh Makwana
November 29, 2025 AT 20:46Look, I know it’s brutal, but let’s not forget - this is Brazil. The bottom six are separated by three points. That’s not a death sentence - it’s a coin flip. One good week, one lucky bounce, one moment of brilliance from Barreal or Patrick, and suddenly you’re not fighting to survive - you’re fighting for top half. Keep believing. The table doesn’t lie, but it doesn’t tell the whole story either.
Vidushi Wahal
December 1, 2025 AT 20:15Beira-Rio’s empty stands after the whistle… that image haunts me. It’s not just about points. It’s about legacy. That stadium remembers everything. The 2006 title. The 2019 near-collapse. The 2021 escape. And now this. The ghosts are watching. And they’re not cheering.
Narinder K
December 2, 2025 AT 22:04So… both teams got exactly what they deserved? A draw. A boring, soul-crushing, statistically neutral draw. Congrats, you two. You didn’t lose. You also didn’t win. You just… existed. Like two people arguing over who forgot to pay the electricity bill.
Narayana Murthy Dasara
December 4, 2025 AT 03:35Hey, I get it - it’s tough. But let’s not forget the human side. Alan Patrick started in the lower leagues. Barreal left his family to play in a league where fans boo him. Borré’s on the bench with a hurt leg, wondering if he’ll ever wear that jersey again. This isn’t just about points - it’s about dignity. These guys are fighting for their families, their pride, their future. We owe them more than memes and sarcasm.
lakshmi shyam
December 4, 2025 AT 06:38Pathetic. Both teams are garbage. If you can’t win when your survival’s on the line, you don’t deserve to be in Série A. The academy’s dead. The fans are done. The coaches are liars. And the owners? They’re already selling the stadium for condos. Wake up, Brazil - this isn’t football, it’s a funeral procession with a halftime show.
Sabir Malik
December 5, 2025 AT 12:56I’ve been following this relegation battle since June. I’ve watched the losses, the near-misses, the injuries, the substitutions that changed nothing. But here’s what no one talks about - the silence. The silence in the locker room after a draw like this. The silence when the bus pulls away from Beira-Rio and no one sings. The silence when a kid in Porto Alegre turns off the TV because he doesn’t want to see his team suffer anymore. That silence? That’s the real cost. Not the points. Not the table. The silence. And it’s getting louder.
Debsmita Santra
December 5, 2025 AT 17:27Let’s look at the tactical evolution here - the double sub at 64 minutes was the pivot point. Souza for Escobar shifted the midfield balance, and Mathias replacing Borré allowed Santos to overload the right flank, which is exactly why Barreal got space to cut inside. The defensive compactness after the equalizer was textbook - both teams prioritized shape over ambition. And the 90+6 foul by Schmidt? Pure desperation. That’s not incompetence - that’s survival instinct. The psychological toll of knowing one mistake ends everything? That’s what this match was really about. Not the goals. Not the stats. The weight of the moment.
Vasudha Kamra
December 6, 2025 AT 15:17It’s heartbreaking, but also beautiful. Football at its core is about resilience. Two clubs, both broken, both tired, both clinging to hope - and still giving everything. That’s why we watch. Not for trophies, but for truth. And tonight, the truth was in the sweat, the silence, and the stubborn refusal to give up. Even if it ended in a draw, it was a victory of spirit.
Shashi Singh
December 7, 2025 AT 06:29THEY KNEW. THEY KNEW!! The Betano sponsorship? It’s a cover-up! The league rigged the draw! Look at the timing - 1-1 on the exact same day as the 2015 Coritiba-Ceará disaster? Coincidence? NO. The same referees. The same VAR glitches. The same 90+6 foul. It’s a pattern! They’re using these matches to manipulate relegation probabilities for betting syndicates! The stadium lights dimmed because the power grid was cut - to erase the evidence! Barreal? He’s not Argentine - he’s a plant! Paid by the league to keep Santos alive so the playoffs stay juicy! Someone’s watching the feeds from space right now, laughing! Someone’s always watching!