Inter de Limeira Faces Santos in Critical Paulistão Showdown

LIMEIRA, SP — The Inter de Limeira and Santos football clubs are set to clash this Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in a crucial match for the Campeonato Paulista at Estádio Major Levy Sobrinho. The game is pivotal for Inter, who are desperate for a win to avoid relegation, while Santos looks to secure their position at the top of Group B.

Entering the match, Inter de Limeira occupies the last place in the overall standings with only seven points and no victories in 11 games. Head coach Márcio Fernandes emphasized the importance of the match, saying, “We need to win and rely on the results of other teams to escape relegation.” A victory against Santos would necessitate that both Água Santa and Noroeste do not win their respective matches against Velo Clube and Portuguesa.

The Santos team, fresh off two consecutive victories, is currently leading Group B with 15 points. A triumph over Inter would secure their position at the top, granting them the advantage of playing at home in the quarterfinals. Santos head coach Pedro Caixinha stated, “We can only rely on ourselves, and a win will solidify our dominance in the group.”

Inter faces additional challenges as they will be missing key players, including midfielder Marlon due to suspension, and Roberto Rosa and Felipe Albuquerque, who are sidelined with injuries. The expected lineup for Inter includes Igo Gabriel; Pablo Diogo, Gui Mariano, Carlão, and Juan Tavares; Flávio, Lucas Buchecha, Ramon, and Albano; Ruan Ribeiro and Carrillo.

In contrast, Santos will be starting João Paulo as goalkeeper, who returns after nearly ten months due to Gabriel Brazão’s back issues. The anticipated lineup for Santos also features star forward Neymar, alongside Soteldo and Tiquinho Soares. Caixinha aims to maintain the winning momentum from their recent performance against Noroeste.

The match not only has playoff implications but also marks a significant moment as Neymar competes at the Major Levy Sobrinho for the first time in his career. Fans from both sides are expected to show up in numbers, and the game will be broadcast live on Cazé TV, UOL Play, and Zapping Sports, intensifying the atmosphere as each team fights for crucial points.