Criciúma is close to being the third club relegated from this Brazilian Championship. This Wednesday (4), Tigre lost to Flamengo 3-0, at the Heriberto Hülse Stadium, in the 37th round of the competition. The result in Criciúma (SC) benefited Fluminense, Rubro-Negro’s great rival, who is fighting to not fall to Série B.
With 38 points, the Santa Catarina team opens the relegation zone (Z4), two points behind Rio’s Tricolor, the only team that the Carvoeiro team can surpass. If Fluminense beats Cuiabá this Thursday (5), at 8pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro, with the broadcast of National RadioCriciúma will have its relegation confirmed. Flamengo, without any major aspirations, now has 69 points in third place.
In the 44th minute of the first half, striker Bruno Henrique found Ayrton Lucas in the area, on the left. He crossed and fellow full-back Guillermo Varela finished first to open the scoring. At 25 of the final stage, the Rio team had a penalty awarded with the help of the video referee (VAR), who saw defender Tobias Figueiredo touch the hand in the area: Bruno Henrique hit and converted. At 38, striker Luiz Araújo received the ball from midfielder Erick Pulgar at the edge of the area and shot past goalkeeper Gustavo, giving the final numbers to the match.
Youth saved
If Criciúma got complicated, Juventude can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Playing at Morumbis, in São Paulo, the Serra Gaúcha team beat the home team 2-1 and saved itself from relegation. The visiting team reached 45 points, in 13th place, opening seven points to Criciúma and Red Bull Bragantino, who are in the Z4. Tricolor from São Paulo, with 59, is in sixth place, guaranteed in the group stage of the Libertadores.
Alviverde took the lead six minutes into the second half, through Gabriel Taliari. The attacker was activated by midfielder Luís Mandaca, carried the ball to the edge of the area and hit goalkeeper Rafael’s corner. At 16, full-back João Lucas crossed from the right and striker Erick finished, increasing the score. São Paulo scored in the 31st minute. After a cross from William Farias from the left, half way up, fellow striker Luciano completed the ball into the net.
Endless crisis
After reaching the finals of the Brazilian and Libertadores Cups, Atlético-MG entered a spiral of bad results in which they were not only without both titles, but also threatened with relegation to Series B. Galo lost to Vasco 2-0 , in São Januário, Rio de Janeiro, reaching 12 matches without winning. After the duel, coach Gabriel Milito left command of the club.
Gabriel Milito is no longer Galo’s coach. The decision was taken on Wednesday night, in common agreement with the coach, who leaves the Club together with his committee.
With our colors, the coach won the 2024 Campeonato Mineiro and reached the finals of the Copa do… pic.twitter.com/4uMkDDq533
— Atlético (@Atletico) December 5, 2024
The Minas Gerais team have 44 points and are awaiting the results of Fluminense (40) and Bragantino (38) to find out whether they enter the last round free of any possibility of falling or not. Vasco, with 47 points, is guaranteed in the next Copa Sudamericana, which Atlético-MG can still achieve.
Six minutes into the second half, midfielder Philipe Coutinho launched a dig at striker Pablo Vegetti, who invaded the area from the right and finished first time into the net. At 18, in another Vasco counterattack, full-back Lucas Piton crossed from the edge of the area on the left and Coutinho completed it, increasing the advantage.