Chapecoense host Internacional at Arena Condá on 12 September 2026 in a Série A Round 27 clash where a defeat for either side would leave them needing a near perfect run of results to survive. Chapecoense sit bottom in 20th with just 17 points from 25 matches and a goal difference of minus 23, while Internacional are only marginally better off in 18th on 25 points from 26 matches and a goal difference of minus 6. Both clubs are staring at relegation and playing like it.
Rafael Lacerda took charge of Chapecoense on 30 May 2026 after replacing Fábio Matias, whereas Paulo Pezzolano has been at Internacional since 1 January 2026 following Roger Machado's exit. Direct head to head history between the two managers is thin, with too few meetings to draw any reliable conclusions about how they set up against each other.
Chapecoense come in on W L W D L, their 2-1 win over Corinthians being their first in six before a 1-3 defeat to Grêmio left their defensive problems as visible as ever. Internacional are in worse shape, arriving on L L D D L after consecutive 2-3 defeats to Santos and Bahia.
Chapecoense are without Bruno Pacheco (suspension) and Yannick Bolasie (pancreas inflammation), losing their left side cover and their most direct attacking outlet. Internacional are missing Victor Gabriel through suspension and sweating on Sergio Rochet's availability due to a back problem, if Rochet does not play, Pezzolano will be working with a goalkeeper less suited to the high defensive line he prefers to operate.
Chapecoense set up in a 4-2-3-1 that depends on staying compact and hitting quickly on the break rather than building from the back. Without Pacheco, the left side is more exposed and the central midfielders will be asked to cover ground they cannot always reach. Walter Clar and Marcio Antonio, the side's top scorers, both make runs behind the defensive line rather than dropping to link play but with Bolasie absent they lose their only player regularly taking on his marker one on one and the attack becomes more predictable.
Internacional also use a 4-2-3-1, progressing through midfield rather than going direct. Alan Patrick operates as the creative fulcrum in the middle third and Johan Carbonero leads the line, though Victor Gabriel's absence weakens the defensive structure and Pezzolano will be watching Rochet's fitness closely. If Internacional's double pivot shuts down the space Clar and Marcio Antonio look for, Chapecoense are left defending for long stretches with no reliable outlet, punting the ball forward with no one to hold it up. That scenario would normally suit Internacional, who are built to dominate territorial play but without Victor Gabriel the defensive structure that allows them to push numbers forward is less reliable than usual and they may struggle to thread passes beyond Chapecoense's defensive block.
Historically, Internacional have the better of this fixture with six wins from 13 meetings against five for Chapecoense and two draws, the most recent of which in March 2026 ended 2-0 to Internacional with the result secured before the hour.
Set pieces may be the only reliable route to goal, with both sides ranking in the bottom six for shots on target in Série A this season. Chapecoense will likely sit deep and look to force errors in Internacional's build up rather than press high, though without Bolasie they lose their primary target for long balls into the box and neither side looks capable of producing a goal fest from open play.
Both managers are likely to set up with a defensive double pivot, prioritising not conceding over creating and between two sides that have scored a combined 31 goals in 51 league appearances this season the openings figure to be scarce. Internacional's possession game may struggle to build clear chances from open play once Victor Gabriel's absence disrupts their defensive organisation and if Rochet is managed carefully from the start Pezzolano may commit to an even more conservative setup than usual. With Pacheco and Bolasie both absent, Chapecoense have no one capable of creating chances from wide positions. Set pieces will go unconverted, transitions will stall and ninety fairly grim minutes will likely end with both managers claiming they showed character. Predicted score: 0-0.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
