Analysis: inconsistent Santos must find form to stay in Série A | OneFootball

Santos had an unacceptable stance in the first half against Internacional, but improved in the second half to draw the game on Monday at Beira-Rio, during the 35th round of the Brazilian Championship, in a direct confrontation in the fight against relegation.

The team led by Juan Pablo Vojvoda lacked attitude in the first half of the match. After the victory against Palmeiras and the draw with Mirassol, the expectation was that Santos would confirm their upward momentum and leave the relegation zone, but all of this was just imagination.

Santos' behavior throughout the 90 minutes made it clear that the team seemed to understand the magnitude of the game and everything it involved only during the break. The three points against Internacional, a direct rival in the fight against relegation, would not only take the team out of the Z4 but would also definitely boost morale for the last three rounds of the Brazilian Championship.

It is true that Santos could not count on Neymar, their main reference, due to discomfort in his left knee, and Vojvoda made seven changes compared to the team that drew with Mirassol in the last round, but even so, many of the mistakes made against Inter could have been avoided.

The Peixe struggled in the first half because they couldn't be a compact team. With the lines quite spaced, Internacional's midfielders had enough freedom to advance with the ball, find good passing lanes, and leave the forwards in a privileged position to score. Luckily, Vojvoda's team went into the break with a narrow 1-0 deficit.

In the second half, with the entries of Guilherme and Barreal, Peixe was a different team, more aggressive, pressing the opponent's ball exit and engaging in a much more balanced duel with Internacional, compatible with the context of the game.

Santos will still have another direct confrontation in the fight against relegation on December 3rd, against Juventude, also away from home. But, it is a fact that if they make the same mistakes shown on Monday in the first half against Internacional, the team led by Vojvoda could end up suffering the dreaded relegation.

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