Vitor Roque delivered the decisive blow and Andreas Pereira added late gloss as Palmeiras produced a clinical 3-1 victory over Internacional at Estadio Beira-Rio, defying the statistics in a masterclass of counter-attacking efficiency. The visitors absorbed relentless pressure from the hosts, who dominated possession at 62.4% and launched 26 shots at goal, yet found themselves undone by Palmeiras's ruthless finishing in a Brazilian Serie A encounter that highlighted the difference between control and conversion.
The opening exchanges belonged to Internacional, who pinned Palmeiras back with wave after wave of attacks. Goalkeeper Carlos Miguel was called into action early, denying Allan's left-footed effort from the right side of the box in the 19th minute after José López's clever assist. The pressure continued to mount, and Internacional's territorial dominance finally yielded a breakthrough in the 36th minute when Ronaldo unleashed a stunning left-footed strike from the right side of the box that arrowed into the top left corner, sending the home faithful into raptures.
Palmeiras responded with their own moment of quality before the interval, as Gustavo Gómez rose majestically to meet Andreas Pereira's corner delivery in the 23rd minute, powering a header toward the top right corner that Sergio Rochet did well to keep out. The half-time whistle arrived with Internacional holding their slender advantage, but the statistics already told a story of dominance without the scoreline to match—the hosts had registered 15 shots to Palmeiras's six, yet led by just a single goal.
The second half began with Palmeiras showing renewed purpose, and they nearly leveled within three minutes of the restart when Vitor Roque's left-footed attempt from a difficult angle was smothered by Rochet in the 48th minute. The young striker would not be denied for long, however, and in the 52nd minute he found the breakthrough Palmeiras craved, rifling a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner to restore parity and silence the home crowd.
Internacional refused to surrender their attacking intent, with Johan Carbonero forcing Carlos Miguel into a smart save in the 64th minute after combining well with Alexandro Bernabéi down the left flank. The hosts won an astonishing 16 corners as they desperately sought to regain their lead, with Gabriel Mercado seeing his header from Alan Patrick's cross safely gathered by Carlos Miguel in the 43rd minute. Yet for all their territorial superiority and shot volume, Internacional lacked the clinical edge that would prove their undoing.
The decisive moment arrived in the 82nd minute when Andreas Pereira produced a moment of individual brilliance, collecting Lucas Evangelista's pass and curling a sublime right-footed effort from the centre of the box into the top left corner. The goal was a dagger to Internacional's hopes, rewarding Palmeiras's patience and punishing the hosts' profligacy in front of goal. Rafael Borré nearly salvaged something for Internacional deep into stoppage time, but his left-footed shot from point-blank range was heroically saved by Carlos Miguel in the 90th minute plus nine.
The statistics painted a remarkable picture of contrasting fortunes—Internacional's 26 shots yielded just four on target, a conversion rate of merely 15%, while Palmeiras managed seven shots on target from their 11 attempts, a clinical 64% accuracy that proved the difference. The visitors absorbed pressure with defensive discipline, marshaled expertly by Gustavo Gómez and Murilo, while Internacional's attacking trio of Ronaldo, Johan Carbonero, and Rafael Borré found space but lacked the composure to capitalize on their dominance.
Palmeiras's tactical approach under pressure was exemplary, sitting deep in their defensive shape and inviting Internacional forward before striking with devastating efficiency on the counter-attack. Allan and Maurício provided the shield in midfield, breaking up play and launching quick transitions that repeatedly caught the hosts exposed. Internacional's frustration was evident as the match wore on, with their 13 fouls reflecting their growing desperation to disrupt Palmeiras's rhythm.
The victory extends Palmeiras's impressive recent form, building on their previous successes and demonstrating their credentials as genuine title contenders. For Internacional, the defeat represents a bitter pill to swallow—dominating possession, winning the corner count 16-4, and outshooting their opponents more than two-to-one, yet leaving empty-handed due to their inability to convert chances into goals. The hosts will need to find their shooting boots quickly if they are to climb the table.
Both teams now turn their attention to their next assignments, with Palmeiras riding high on confidence and Internacional facing soul-searching questions about their finishing. The contrast in clinical finishing proved the ultimate difference in a match that showcased both the beauty and cruelty of football—one team's dominance rendered meaningless by another's ruthless efficiency in front of goal.