Biggest winner of the Bahia Championship and current champion, Bahia started well on its journey towards its 52nd state title. Led by young striker Ruan Pablo, aged 17, who has a contractual fine of 200 million euros (R$ 1.25 billion) for football abroad, Esquadrão de Aço defeated Jequié 4-2 at Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova, in Salvador, in the first round. The match was broadcast live on TV Brasil, in partnership with TVE Bahia.
Just like Vitória, who debuted in a goalless draw with Atlético-BA last Saturday (10), at Barradão, also in the capital, Bahia will use the State to give space to players who returned from loan or are little used by coach Rogério Ceni, as the main athletes in the professional squad started the pre-season less than a week ago. Opportunity, for example, for goalkeeper João Paulo, who arrived from Santos in August and had not yet made his debut.
Revelations from the youth categories should also gain chances. The offensive trio selected to face Jequié has an average age of 17 years old, bringing together Kauê Furquim (joined from Corinthians in August), Ruan Pablo and Dell – nicknamed “Haaland do Sertão”, due to his eye for goal and physical similarity to the Norwegian center forward Erling Haaland, from Manchester City, in England. The last two played for the Brazilian under-17 team in last year’s World Championship.
With six minutes, the Squadron jumped in front of the marker. After an individual play, Dell finished and the ball exploded on the mark. The surplus fell at the feet of Jota, who returned to the club after a loan to Criciúma. The 21-year-old midfielder, revealed in the tricolor base, hit the ball from the edge of the area, into the right corner of goalkeeper André Lucas.
Little by little, Jequié tried to loosen up and managed to equalize in the 23rd minute. Full-back Erick Daltro launched from the defensive field, behind full-back Zé Guilherme. Midfielder João Grilo gained speed and hit a cross, hitting the post. In the remainder, striker Tiago Recife, without a goalkeeper, completed the ball into the net.
Then the tricolor jewel show began. At 35, Dell was disarmed and the ball fell to Zé Guilherme on the left, who found Pedrinho at the edge of the area. The midfielder kicked, André Lucas rebounded and Ruan Pablo appeared to score Bahia’s second. Six minutes later, Jota received the ball on the right and crossed low to Dell, who finished it first time. Jequié’s goalkeeper made the save, but, again, he saw Ruan Pablo take advantage to score another goal.
In the final stage, the teams’ pace dropped. Jequié, better physically, even reduced the damage. In the 18th minute, striker Nael received the ball on the left, left Ruan Pablo’s marking and crossed the ball, with precision, into João Paulo’s corner, scoring a great goal.
The team from the interior, however, did not take advantage of the moment of superiority and Bahia managed to regain control of the actions. In stoppage time, he reached the fourth goal, with defender Fredi, heading in a corner taken by midfielder Rodrigo Nestor, on the left.
Timão starts with victory
The current champion of São Paulo and the Copa do Brasil debuted in 2026 at the Fiel Torcida party at the Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo. This Sunday, Corinthians beat Ponte Preta, who won Series C of the Brazilian Championship, 3-0.
Timão went to the field with a mixed team, as it is without some of its starters for the start of the season. Macaca, unable to register athletes due to punishment and delayed salaries, had a bench made up only of base players.
The goals came in the second half. In the eighth minute, striker Vitinho took a corner kick and defender Gustavo Henrique, with a header, opened the scoring. At 17, full-back Matheuzinho was left with a blocked shot from striker Gui Negão and finished. The ball deflected off André’s steering wheel and went into the net. In stoppage time, defender André Ramalho also scored a great goal from outside the area, giving the final score to the match.
Chape stumbles again
The year of Chapecoense’s return to Série A of the Brasileirão has not yet been exciting. Verdão do Oeste remains without triumphing in the Catarinense Championship after two rounds. This Sunday, the team lost to Camboriú 2-0 at the Orlando Scarpelli Stadium, in Florianópolis – the Emília Rodrigues Stadium, in Imbituba (SC), where Tricolor plays its games, did not meet the demands of the Santa Catarina Football Federation (FCF).
Camboriú took the lead after three minutes, following a wrong attempt by goalkeeper Rafael Santos, which Nilton took advantage of. Six minutes later, Wermeson took the ball on the left, in the middle, invaded the area and rolled the ball for fellow midfielder Mansur to finish into the net.
Tricolor, who had debuted with a 2-2 away win against Santa Catarina, 2-2, at the Alfredo Krieck Stadium, in Rio do Sul (SC), has four points. Chape, who debuted in a 1-1 draw with Brusque at Arena Condá, in Chapecó (SC), remain with one point.
In another game this Sunday, Concórdia and Santa Catarina did not come from scratch at the Domingos Lima Stadium, in Concórdia (SC). The home team reached four points and the visitor reached two. On Saturday (10), the second round opened with a new triumph for Figueirense, who beat Marcílio Dias 1-0 at Orlando Scarpelli and reached six points – Marinheiro remains with three.
Barra, champion of Series D of the Brasileirão in 2025, also won 1-0. The victim was Joinville, at Arena Barra FC, in Itajaí (SC). Pescador, as the winning club is known, scored the first three points in Catarinense. JEC, which accumulated its second defeat in the State, announced the dismissal of coach Leandro Sena.
