What Happened in Brazilian Soccer Yesterday (Monday, September 29th, 2025)

Atlético-MG

• Atlético-MG and Juventude face each other this Tuesday for the 26th round of the Brasileirão, with Galo aiming for a third consecutive victory and Juventude fighting to escape the relegation zone.

• Coach Sampaoli has restored confidence at Atlético-MG, recovered key players, strengthened the defense, and ended negative streaks with back-to-back wins.

• The club questioned the CBF about the yellow card given to Hulk against Mirassol, requested the referee’s audio, and considers the punishment unfair.

Bahia

• Bahia currently has seven players in the medical department, including Kanu and Erick, who are undergoing long-term recovery, while David Duarte is expected to return first. Ademir has already come back and scored a decisive goal against Palmeiras.

• The team began preparations to face Botafogo: starters participated in recovery sessions, while substitutes trained in technical and tactical activities.

Botafogo

• Botafogo’s defense has weakened under Davide Ancelotti, conceding 13 goals in the last 10 games after only four in the first 10. Injuries, departures, and frequent defensive changes have hurt the team’s stability.

• Currently in 5th place, Botafogo needs to finish at least 6th in the Brasileirão to secure a Libertadores spot. With 40 points, the team must earn around 19 more to reach the historical qualification average of 59 points.

• Joaquín Correa has recovered from a muscle injury and should reinforce Botafogo against Bahia this Wednesday (Oct 1). Ancelotti will also have Barboza and Kaio Pantaleão back, but Matheus Martins will be suspended.

Ceará

• Ceará defeated São Paulo 1–0 at Morumbi, breaking a 10-year winless streak away against the Tricolor. Pedro Henrique came off the bench to score the decisive goal, moving the team up to 11th place.

• Coach Condé highlighted Ceará’s strategy to withstand São Paulo’s early pressure, push the lines forward, and exploit transitions, praising the team’s consistency and focus in the away victory.

Cruzeiro

• Néiser Villarreal, who has a pre-contract to join Cruzeiro in December, is expected to end his spell with Millonarios after the U-20 World Cup and won’t play again for the Colombian club.

• Gabigol will face Flamengo at Maracanã, where he is the second all-time top scorer, after having already scored against his former team earlier in the season for Cruzeiro.

• Fully recovered from a muscle strain, Sinisterra trained with the group and should reinforce Cruzeiro against Flamengo at Maracanã.

Flamengo

• Filipe Luís completes one year as Flamengo’s head coach, having won titles, broken the cycle of managerial changes, and is set to renew his contract after consolidating stability and leadership.

• Erick Pulgar has started physical conditioning and could return to Flamengo after the FIFA break, being available to Filipe Luís in October.

• Luiz Araújo is having the most productive season of his career with 20 goal involvements, though he faces strong competition for a starting spot.

Fluminense

• John Kennedy, with only 142 minutes in six matches since returning to Fluminense, is still fighting for more opportunities under coach Zubeldía. The coach emphasized that his development depends on both the staff and the player’s commitment.

• Thiago Silva left the derby against Botafogo as a precaution after feeling thigh pain; he will undergo tests, but said on social media it’s not serious and he has already started recovery.

• Lucho Acosta has earned a key role in Fluminense’s midfield, scoring one goal and providing one assist in nine matches since arriving for US$4 million. Zubeldía praised his tactical intelligence and creativity, especially in the win over Botafogo.

Fortaleza

• Tinga has resumed full training and may return for Fortaleza against São Paulo, while Mancuso will be out due to suspension.

Grêmio

• Grêmio currently has 13 injured players, five of whom are only expected to return in 2026. The team is using the FIFA break to aid others in recovery.

• Goalkeeper Volpi will miss upcoming matches, and Gabriel Grando will start against Santos and Red Bull Bragantino.

• Marcelo Marques has stepped back from Grêmio’s politics, paused new investments, and will not support any presidential candidates.

Internacional

• Internacional closed July with a R$15 million deficit, despite higher-than-expected revenue, and currently spends around R$20 million monthly on salaries.

• The team will have three defenders returning from suspension against Corinthians, while other players remain doubtful due to physical issues.

• Veteran Mercado admitted the team’s confidence has been shaken after recent losses but urged full commitment to regain winning form.

Juventude

• The CBF admitted VAR mistakes in the Juventude vs. Internacional match, involving Victor Gabriel’s card and a possible penalty by Bruno Tabata on Ênio. However, Ewerthon’s goal was correctly confirmed.

• Juventude will miss Caíque and Gabriel Taliari, both suspended with three yellow cards, against Atlético-MG. Coach Thiago Carpini may choose replacements from Daniel Peixoto, Sforza, Giraldo (midfield), and Gilberto, Matheus Babi, or Batalla (attack).

Mirassol

• Mirassol will celebrate its 100th anniversary by facing Palmeiras on November 9 (Round 33) at Estádio Maião. In their first top-flight season, they’ve impressed the big São Paulo clubs and currently sit 4th with 42 points, behind Palmeiras (49).

• The team’s 16-game scoring streak ended in the 1–0 loss to Atlético-MG, only the second time they’ve failed to score in Serie A. They have the league’s second-best attack (41 goals), behind only Flamengo.

Sport Recife

• Coach Raphael Bahia praised 18-year-old defender Riquelme, a Sport gem, highlighting his leadership, technical quality, and potential resale value. The youngster is already part of the senior squad with a contract until 2028.

• Daniel Paulista lamented Sport’s inconsistency in the Brasileirão, citing alternating good and poor performances, but vowed to keep fighting relegation and projected a reaction against Fluminense.

Vasco

• Tottenham is expected to lose Richarlison, a Flamengo target valued at around €20 million, and is looking for an attacking replacement — Rayan from Vasco is on their radar.

• Defender Carlos Cuesta suffered a minor injury and will likely miss Vasco’s match against Palmeiras, with a return expected for the next game against Vitória.

• Rayan, Philippe Coutinho, and Paulo Henrique are on Ancelotti’s watchlist and could be called up for Brazil’s friendlies against South Korea (Oct 10) and Japan (Oct 14).

Vitória

• A PLURI consultancy report shows that despite record revenue of R$186 million in 2024, Vitória recorded a R$41 million deficit and a net debt of R$307 million. Converting to a SAF is recommended to balance finances and remain competitive.

• Vitória is negotiating directly with Ahmed Abbassi, CEO of the Qatar Stars League, regarding a potential SAF partnership.

• The club requested that the CBF change the kickoff time of the Ba-Vi on October 16 (currently 9:30 p.m. at Barradão), citing safety, mobility, and logistical concerns.