Atlético edge Ceará with lightning goal at Arena MRV, boost in Brasileirão | OneFootball

Atlético returned to winning ways in the Brazilian Championship. In a match valid for the 30th round of Série A, Galo defeated Ceará 1-0 on Saturday night (25th) at Arena MRV, ending a winless streak that had been troubling the fans. The result temporarily moves the team away from the relegation battle at the bottom of the table and gives coach Jorge Sampaoli some breathing room in the final stretch of the competition.

Lineup:

The match:

Right from the opening seconds, Atlético showed they were determined to change the scenario. At kickoff, the alvinegro team worked the play well until Alan Franco received the ball at the edge of the box and finished firmly, scoring after just 22 seconds—the fastest goal of this edition of the Brasileirão.

With the lead, Galo maintained control of possession and tried to extend the score, especially with Hulk, who was the main playmaker in the attacking half. Despite their territorial dominance, the team struggled to create clear chances. Ceará, on the other hand, grew into the game from the middle of the first half, capitalizing on Atlético’s mistakes in building from the back and trying to speed up plays with quick transitions.

Goalkeeper Everson was decisive in the 33rd minute, making a great save from a Pedro Raul shot and preserving the slim lead at halftime.

At the start of the second half, Sampaoli brought on Igor Gomes in place of Biel, seeking a stronger presence in midfield. The change had a defensive effect: Ceará had more possession, but faced a solid and well-positioned defense. Galo’s center-back duo and defensive system neutralized the visitors’ main attacking moves.

As the minutes ticked by, the Argentine coach reinforced the counter-attacking system, bringing on Guilherme Arana, Bernard, and Rony. The strategy was to withstand Ceará’s final pressure, who had their best chance in the 37th minute, when Vina shot from inside the box—once again stopped by Everson, one of the standout players of the match.

In the closing minutes, Atlético managed to hold on to the result and secure the win. With the victory, Galo reaches 36 points, breathes easier in the standings, and continues its recovery in an effort to leave behind the mark of the worst second-half campaign. Ceará, meanwhile, is still searching for stability and sees its winless streak grow.

What’s next…

Atlético now shifts its focus and will seek a spot in the final of the Copa Sudamericana. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg against Del Valle, the team has the chance to secure qualification at Arena MRV next Tuesday.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.