Internacional lead the Brazilian Serie A after 20 matchdays. Due to title challengers Atletico MG playing one fewer game, Internacional must continue to win to stay atop the table.
Santos host International on Saturday in a game that will have impacts on both the title race and qualification for the Copa Libertadores. Santos are seventh in the league and sit on 31 points. The Black and White are two points off of the top four and five away from Internacional.
These teams met in August in Serie A with Internacional claiming an impressive 2-0 win. Paolo Guerro scored Internacional’s opener in the 57th minute and Edenilson added a second in the 88th minute.
International are unbeaten in six straight games in all competitions versus Santos. Three of those six games finished with Internacional winning. Meanwhile, four of those six games ended with under 2.5 goals scored.
Abel Braga’s Inter go into the game on the back of poor form in Serie A. Internacional are winless in three straight games claiming two points from nine possible. They are out of form at exactly the wrong time of the season.
Santos have been inconsistent for much of the Serie A campaign. They posted a 3W-1D-2L record over the course of their last six games in the league. Lat time out, Santos could only draw with Red Bull Bragantino.
The Black and White are +4 in goals scored with 28 for and 24 against. Internacional on the other hand have bagged 32 goals while allowing 18 -- the fourth fewest in Serie A.
Santos have taken 16 points from 30 at home this season. They have allowed 12 goals and scored 17 times. Internacional have obtained 14 points from 30 on the road. They have scored 13 times while allowing 10 goals to opponents.
Internacional striker Thiago Galhardo is one player to watch this weekend. The forward has scored 15 of Internactional’s 32 goals. He has accounted for 47% of the team’s scoring and leads Serie A in goal scored.
Not to be outdone, Santos’ Marinho has tallied Serie A’s second-most goals. The forward has bagged 12 of Santos’ 28 goals. He has 43% of Santos’ scoring in 2020. Can he power Santos to a win?
Based on the form of both teams, Saturday’s game could finish in a score draw. Expect the game to be low scoring as Santos and Internacional finish with under 2.5 goals scored in stalemate.