Concerns for Newcastle United as Bruno Guimaraes talks Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti | OneFootball

A busy time for Bruno Guimaraes as the Newcastle United captain is also a key man for Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti.

Having turned 28 on Sunday, the midfielder has already started 20 games for club and country this season.

Bruno Guimaraes having started all five Brazil matches since this club season kicked off, plus all Newcastle United matches, apart from the Premier League game at Bournemouth and he came off the bench for the Spurs cup game at St James’ Park.

In his time at Newcastle United, it has been incredible how many matches Bruno Guimaraes has been able to play, especially as he has at the same time become an automatic first choice for Brazil.

This has been made even clearer under Carlo Ancelotti.

The new Brazil manager took charge of his first game in June and Bruno Guimaraes has started all seven matches under Ancelotti.

The seventh of those was on Saturday when the Newcastle United midfielder was excellent in the 2-0 win over Senegal.

However, concerns for Newcastle United that Bruno Guimaraes has been asked to do so much.

In this game at the weekend, Bruno was the only one of the six midfielders and attacking players who was asked to play the whole game by Carlo Ancelotti, the other five subbed off.

In the last international ‘break’, Bruno Guimaraes asked to start against both Japan and South Korea, on top of so much travelling.

The media in Brazil appear to take for granted that the NUFC star will also start on Tuesday night in Lille against Tunisia, yet another friendly.

Bruno Guimaraes is of course ALWAYS going to be desperate to play for his countryman BUT with so many demands in this Newcastle United season, surely Carlo Ancelotti has to recognise that and give his star midfielder a shift off tomorrow. Otherwise, Bruno will be starting this latest Brazil friendly only days ahead of a huge Newcastle United games against Man City on Saturday.

Bruno Guimaraes has been speaking to ESPN Brazil about life with the national team under Carlo Ancelotti:

“Since Ancelotti arrived, he fixed for me what was the main issue.

“We were conceding too many goals.

“The Brazil national team cannot concede so many goals like we were suffering.

“He organised everything. I think we now have much more confidence to play with him. He gave confidence to everyone.

“Brazil, every time you ask anyone, arrives as a favourite [for a World Cup].

“The country with the most World Cups will always be one of the favourites.

“But I think we are on a very good upward path and I hope we can arrive there and win, not only be the favourite.

“This time we want to consolidate and put a sixth star on the chest.”

This is the November 2025 international schedule for Newcastle United players:

Thursday 13 November

Moldova 0 Italy 2

Sandro Tonali playing the full match in this World Cup group qualifier and though it took until the 88th minute for the away side to score, they fully deserved the eventual 2-0 win. Tonali the key figure in midfield as a much changed and weakened Italy side dominated throughout (28 v 3 on shots, 13 v 1 corners, 65 v 3 player touches of the ball in the opposition box) but struggled to convert that into goals.

England 2 Serbia 0

A dominant England performance with a classy Saka strike giving the hosts a half-time lead. Dan Burn watched on from the bench as the Three Lions failed to take their chances, until the 90th minute, Eze matching Saka with the quality of his  finish.

Friday 14 November

Luxembourg 0  Germany 2

Two quality second half finishes from Nick Woltemade, the first with his left and second using his right boot, firing Germany to this crucial 2-0 victory. They now just need to avoid defeat at home to Slovakia on Monday to automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals.

Great to see Malick Thiaw as well get on the pitch, subbed on in the 79th minute as Woltemade played the full game.

Saturday 15 November

Brazil 2 Senegal 0

Bruno Guimaraes excelling in this friendly at the Emirates Stadium.

A superb performance in defence and attack, with Goal giving no Brazil player a higher rating than the 8 out of 10 they awarded the NUFC star, describing his contribution as; ‘A complete performance by a complete player.’

Switzerland 4 Sweden 1

Anthony Elanga started and played the opening 78 minutes, a match where the Sweden midfield struggled to get control and the defence proving vulnerable. The Newcastle United winger subbed off on 78 minutes with the score at 3-1, whilst Emil Krafth was an unused sub. A shocking story so far with one point from five group matches so far, Sweden will finish bottom unless they win against Slovenia on Tuesday. The Swedes hitting lucky though, as they have managed to fluke a place in the play-offs for these World Cup finals, thanks to Nations League results a while ago.

Sunday 16 November

Albania 0 England 2

Dan Burn picking up his fourth start in this fifth England appearance for the Newcastle defender. The final World Cup group qualifier seeing England the better team but with seven changes made, not quite as fluent. Dan Burn putting in a decent shift and created a great chance that Bellingham should have finished. Harry Kane with two goals in the final 16 minutes of normal time, sealed yet another England victory.

Italy 1 Norway 4

As Gattuso said he would, Sandro Tonali not risked, as a yellow card would have seen him suspended when it came to the play-offs in March 2026 for the World Cup finals.

Only three points between the two teams ahead of this final group match, but Norway had a 17 goal advantage on GD, meaning Italy would have had to win by nine goals to automatically qualify. Italy took the lead but four goals in the second half, including two from Haaland, saw a below strength home side well beaten.

Monday 17 November

Germany v Slovakia (Nick Woltemade, Malick Thiaw) World Cup group qualifier

Tuesday 18 November