Zé Rafael bossed the midfield as Santos beat Corinthians | OneFootball

Santos secured a crucial victory in the fight against relegation by beating Corinthians 3-1 this Wednesday at Vila Belmiro, in the 2025 Brasileirão. The big standout of the match was midfielder Zé Rafael, who delivered his best performance for the club since arriving in 2025, according to SofaScore's analysis.

Zé Rafael: Santos' standout

Zé Rafael was highlighted as the technical and physical leader of Santos' midfield. With a rating of 8.3, he made a decisive impact: scored one goal, completed 16 out of 19 passes (84%), won 9 out of 15 duels, and also contributed 3 tackles and 1 penalty earned.

This solid performance established Zé Rafael as the engine of Santos' midfield, responsible for balancing the team both in defense and in offensive transitions.

Crucial result

The result was essential for Santos, who opened up a six-point lead over Vitória, the first team inside the relegation zone.

The next challenge for Peixe will be precisely against their Salvador rival, on Monday, once again at Vila Belmiro, in a direct clash that could consolidate the team's comeback in the final stretch of the championship.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.