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.