Botafogo held the ball, Internacional held the chances

Internacional beat Botafogo 3-0 at Estádio Beira Rio by creating far better chances, while Botafogo had more of the ball than they usually do.

Botafogo had more of the ball than they usually do, and it gained them very little. They held 56% of possession, well above their away average of 48.4%, yet Internacional created the better chances and won 3-0. Holding the ball and making chances are different things, and on this occasion they pointed in opposite directions.

Internacional had more of the ball than usual as well, 44% against a home average of 37.2%, but that is the smaller surprise. Their real change came in shooting: 17 attempts where they usually take 11.7, and an expected goals figure of 2.81. Expected goals, or xG, gives each shot a value based on how often shots like it go in, so a high total means the chances were good ones, not just plentiful. Their home norm is 0.79, and a typical side in this league reaches 1.33, so the gap was wide.

Botafogo's chances told the opposite story. Their expected goals of 0.62 sits well below their away average of 1.5, and they had 11 shots against a usual 17.7. Those attempts were not dangerous enough to trouble the home goalkeeper, Kauan, who finished the match with four saves to his name and very little to do in the second half. The visitors were busy without being threatening.

Matheus Bahia opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, and José Carlos Ferreira Júnior doubled the lead at 42. Alexandro Bernabéi made it firm in the 66th minute, with Alerrandro credited with the assist. Bernabéi had two of his shots on target and three key passes, and his rating of 8.2 was the highest on either side. He was the player whose work showed most clearly in the numbers.

Botafogo scored none, where their away average is 0.7, and they conceded three goals, a higher total than their usual 1.4 away. They also picked up three yellow cards, while Internacional were booked not once. Internacional kept a clean sheet, which is less than their home concession average would normally allow. The visitors had the ball, and they paid for failing to turn it into chances.

Internacional now sit 17th in the table with 32 points from 31 matches. Botafogo, on 39 points from the same number of games, are 11th. The win did not change where Internacional sit, but it showed that their attack can produce goals even when they are not the side with more of the ball.

Player of the matchA. Bernabéi1 goal8.2

Kauan4 saves7.8

Matheus Bahia1 goal7.8

Alerrandro1 assist7.3