Atlético ramp up for crucial Copa do Brasil clash at Fortaleza | OneFootball

Atlético wrapped up another day of preparations on the morning of this Friday (28th) for the match against Fortaleza, scheduled for Sunday (30th) at 6:30 p.m. at Arena Castelão, for the 35th round of the Brazilian Championship. Internally, the match is being treated as decisive, both due to the need to react in the final stretch of the competition and the chance to finally close in on the Brasileirão’s G-8.

Friday’s training session included technical and tactical activities led by Jorge Sampaoli, followed by specific set-piece and finishing drills. The squad will return to the field at Cidade do Galo on Saturday morning (29th) at 10 a.m., for the last session before traveling to Fortaleza, which is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

For the clash in the Northeast, Sampaoli will have a significant absence and an important return. Forward Rony is out of the match after being sent off in the previous round, in the game against Flamengo. On the other hand, midfielder Igor Gomes returns from suspension and is once again available, increasing the coach’s options for the midfield.

Direct fight for the G-8

An away win could put Atlético right back in the race for a Copa Libertadores spot. If they secure all three points, the black-and-white team will reach 48 points, tying with São Paulo—the current 8th place team, who have already played this round. The scenario becomes even more significant considering the possibility that the Copa do Brasil champion could be Fluminense or Cruzeiro, which would expand the number of spots through the Brasileirão to eight.

With this combination, the match is being called a “six-point game” for Galo, who are looking to finish the final stretch of the championship with a spot in the continent’s main competition in 2026.

Pressure on the other side

If the match is crucial for Atlético, Fortaleza is in a similar situation—but at the lower end of the table. The team led by Martín Palermo is fighting directly against relegation and has been recovering in recent rounds. A win in front of their home crowd at Castelão could lift Tricolor out of the Z-4, provided that Santos and Vitória do not win their matches this round.

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