Santos vs Internacional - Serie A

The history between Santos and Internacional lends this Serie A fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at the home ground on March 19, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. Chelsea take on Serie A giants Juventus in Hong Kong this morning in the latest fixture on their pre-season tour of Asia.

Santos head into the contest positioned 10th in the Serie A standings, while Internacional arrive sitting 18th. The hosts have mirrored the form of a side still searching for rhythm — WWWDW over their last five, a win rate of 34.62%. The visitors arrive short of confidence, WLLDD in their last five and a season win rate of just 22.22%. The contrast in attacking output — 1.5 versus 1.11 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. Tim Sherwood makes his predictions for the new Premier League season, including who he thinks will make the top four in the table.

Pressing intensity will define the contest. Santos will seek to win the ball high up the pitch and suffocate Internacional's build-up, while the visitors will aim to play through the pressure and exploit the spaces it leaves behind. But it was a dual role for Rayo because he was also among the top dozen players for blocking crosses and winning possession in the defensive third.

The fixture boasts genuine star quality. With K. Viveros topping the Serie A scoring charts at 18 goals, the stage is set for the kind of individual brilliance that can swing a contest. Whoever wins the individual duel between the two sides' chief playmakers is likely to dictate the rhythm and, ultimately, the destination of the points. Despite these links, United will not be parting ways with the Slovenian striker.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. On balance, Santos look well-placed to claim all three points, and a 2-1 home win would not come as a surprise. With positions in the Serie A table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. Important qualities given that Bournemouth will expect him to be proactive.