Porto Alegre: Santos produced an impressive away performance to beat Internacional 3-2 at the Beira-Rio Stadium on Sunday, September 6, 2026, in the 26th round of the Brazilian Serie A.
Santos took complete control in the first half, scoring three goals before the break. Gabigol scored twice, while Christian Oliva added another as Santos built a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Internacional attempted a dramatic comeback after half-time. Braian Aguirre and Bruno Henrique found the net, but Santos held on to claim all three points. Internacional also played with 10 men after Matheus Bahia was sent off in the first half.
Why Was Neymar Not Playing?
The biggest talking point before the match was the absence of Neymar.
The Santos superstar suffered a right-thigh muscular injury during the Copa do Brasil quarter-final against Palmeiras. Medical examinations subsequently confirmed a Grade 2B injury to the rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh.
Reports indicate that Neymar could be sidelined for four to eight weeks, meaning Santos could be without their captain for a significant run of important matches. One report puts his potential return around the end of October.
Neymar’s injury came at an especially difficult time for Santos, with the club also dealing with other fitness problems. Álvaro Barreal and Lucas Veríssimo were also unavailable against Internacional.
Santos Climb to 12th
The victory lifted Santos to 32 points and 12th place in the Brasileirão table, giving the club a seven-point cushion over the relegation zone. Internacional remained in 18th place with 25 points.
The result is particularly valuable for Santos because it came immediately after their Copa do Brasil elimination by Palmeiras and without Neymar.
Gabigol’s two goals and Santos’ strong first-half display showed that the team can still produce attacking quality without its biggest star.
Santos’ next major challenge will come in the Copa Sudamericana against Atlético Mineiro.
