The sensation of Brazilian football in 2025 started the season showing that he wants to continue surprising. In the game that ended the opening round of the Campeonato Paulista, on Sunday night (11), Mirassol hosted São Paulo in Maião and won 3-0.
One of the ten reinforcements announced by Leão Caipira for 2026, Lucas Mugni opened the scoring after six minutes, following a finish from fellow midfielder Shaylon, who stopped at the post. At 19, striker Alesson shot, the ball deflected off defender Alan Franco and went into the net, increasing the hosts’ advantage.
In the final stage, São Paulo bet on the addition of striker Lucas Moura, recovered from a knee injury, and midfielder Danielzinho, a reinforcement signed for the season and who came from Mirassol, where he was captain. Tricolor even managed to attack more times, but without success.
In the end, the team from the capital lost full-back Maik, who was sent off, and saw Mirassol score the third. In the 43rd minute, full-back Daniel Borges crossed, goalkeeper Rafael rebounded into the middle of the area and midfielder José Aldo finished into the net, giving the game final results.
Sunday night was busy with two other Paulistão games. At the Alfredo de Castilho Stadium, in Bauru (SP), Red Bull Bragantino defeated Noroeste 1-0. Striker Jhon Jhon scored the winning goal for Massa Bruta at the end of the second half. At Benitão, in Rio Claro (SP), Velo Clube played out a goalless draw with Botafogo-SP.
Flamengo boys snatch a draw
The Carioca Championship began this Sunday, with a 1-1 draw between Flamengo and Portuguesa-RJ, at the Raulino de Oliveira Stadium, in Volta Redonda (RJ). The match was valid for the fifth round of the State Championship and brought forward due to the Supercopa Rei, between Rubro-Negro and Corinthians, scheduled for February 1st, at 4pm (Brasília time), at the BRB Mané Garrincha Arena, in Brasília.
As the professional squad hasn’t even started pre-season yet, which is scheduled for Monday (12), Flamengo went to the field with the under-20 team. The Portuguese, who had nothing to do with this, took the lead with striker Rhuan, 12 minutes into the second half. In stoppage time, defender Iago left everything the same.
Without Hulk, Atlético-MG draws at home
With a mixed team, Atlético-MG disappointed the fans at Arena MRV, in Belo Horizonte, this Sunday, by finishing 1-1 with Betim, in the opening round of the Campeonato Mineiro. Midfielder Reinier, in the 21st minute, put Galo ahead. In the opening minute of the final stage, however, striker Diego Jardel equalized.
Striker Hulk, who is of interest to Fluminense and is experiencing an impasse in negotiations to renew his contract with Atlético, was one of the absences in the formation selected by coach Jorge Sampaoli. He watched the match in one of the Arena’s boxes.
In another Sunday match for Mineiro, América-MG beat Athletic 3-0. Strikers Thauan and Éverton Brito and midfielder Eduardo Person found the net at Arena Independência, in Belo Horizonte.
Inter concedes a great goal, but wins comeback
Internacional debuted with victory in the Campeonato Gaúcho. With a team mixing players from the base and little used in the main team, Colorado came up behind Novo Hamburgo, but sought a comeback and won 2-1 at Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre, this Sunday.
Midfielder Allison, on a bicycle, put the Vale dos Sinos team ahead, seven minutes into the first half. In the 15th minute of the final stage, defender João Marcus scored against and equalized for Inter. In the end, at 40, striker Diego Coser guaranteed the Colorado triumph.
Gauchão’s opening round had two other games this Sunday. In Ijuí (RS), at the Estádio 19 de Outubro, São Luiz and Caxias drew 1-1. At Passo D’Areia, in Porto Alegre, São José and Inter de Santa Maria did not come from scratch.
“Alternative” drilling ties in the interior
Another club from Series A of the Brazilian Championship that starts 2026 with young people from the base and athletes with little minutes from the professional team is Athletico-PR. This Sunday, Furacão visited Cianorte at the Albino Turbay Stadium and drew 1-1, in the second round of the Paranaense Championship.
Furacão, who had debuted with a 2-1 victory over Andraus at the Ligga Arena, in Curitiba, went to four points. Leão do Vale, who came from a 3-3 with Maringá, at home, added the second point.
At 15 minutes, Bruno Dentinho opened the scoring for Cianorte. Also midfielder João Cruz, seven minutes into the second half, equalized for Athletico, who had two goals disallowed, one in each half. Paranaense’s first phase does not have a video referee (VAR).
Also this Sunday, Andraus beat São Joseense 2-0 at the Ligga Arena, reaching the same three points as their rival. At home, at the ABC Stadium, Foz do Iguaçu finished 1-1 with Azuriz. The host team was four points behind. The visitor reached two points.
Galo Maringá, in turn, hosted Cascavel at the Willie Davies Stadium, lost 1-0 and remains zero. Serpente, who played out a goalless draw with Azuriz at home, at the Estádio Olímpico Regional, in the opening round, reached four points.
Fortaleza does not come from scratch for Cearense
In coach Thiago Carpini’s debut, Fortaleza played out a goalless draw with Ferroviário this Sunday, at the Presidente Vargas Stadium, in the second round of the Cearense Championship. Leão do Pici, who had not yet been on the field for the State Championship, scored the first point. Ferrão, which was coming off a 1-0 victory over Maracanã at Prefeitão, in Maracanaú (CE), reached four points in the competition.
Also this Sunday, Maranguape won the first three points in Cearense when they hosted Tirol at Moraisão and won 1-0. The visiting team suffered the second setback and remains at zero in the table.
This Wednesday (14), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), Ceará, current two-time champion, faces Maranguape at Presidente Vargas, in the third round of Cearense. The match in Fortaleza will be broadcast live on TV Brasil, in partnership with TV Ceará.
