Palmeiras win, finish as top runners-up and send Ceará down | OneFootball

Palmeiras ended their campaign in the 2025 Brazilian Championship with a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Ceará. Pedro Raul opened the scoring for Vozão, while Facundo Torres, Ramón Sosa, and Flaco López scored for Verdão in the match that took place at Arena Castelão. The result gives Abel Ferreira’s team the record for the best runner-up in the Brasileirão and relegates Ceará.

Standings Situation

Palmeiras had already secured their position in the 2025 Brazilian Championship after the results of the penultimate round: second place. Abel Ferreira’s team finished as runners-up with 76 points, recording the best campaign by a runner-up in a 20-team Brasileirão, a format adopted since 2006.

Meanwhile, Ceará, with 43 points, dropped to 18th place and was relegated to Série B.

📋 Match Summary?⚫⚪ CEARÁ 1 X 3 PALMEIRAS 🟢⚪

🏆 Competition: Brazilian Championship (38th round) 🏟️ Venue: Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza (CE) 📅 Date: December 7, 2025 (Sunday) ⏰ Time: 4:00 PM (Brasília time) 👥 Attendance: x spectators 💰 Revenue: R$ 🟨 Yellow cards: Fernandinho (Ceará); Larson and Luís Pacheco (Palmeiras) 🟥 Red cards: None

Refereeing

Referee: Bruno Arleu de Araújo (RJ) Assistants: Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique (RJ) and Thiago Henrique Neto (RJ) VAR: Rodrigo D’Alonso Ferreira (SC)

Goals

⚽ Pedro Raul, 11′ of the 2nd half (Ceará) ⚽ Facundo Torres, 16′ of the 2nd half (Palmeiras) ⚽ Ramón Sosa, 15′ of the 2nd half (Palmeiras) ⚽ Flaco López, 19′ of the 2nd half (Palmeiras)

🟢⚪ Palmeiras Marcelo Lomba; Giay, Bruno Fuchs, Benedetti, and Jefté; Aníbal Moreno (Luís Pacheco), Larson (Allan), and Mauricio (Erick Belé); Facundo Torres (Luighi), Ramón Sosa, and Flaco López (Bruno Rodrigues). Coach: Abel Ferreira

⚫⚪ Ceará Bruno Ferreira; Rafael Ramos (Aylon), Marcos Victor, Willian Machado, and Matheus Bahia; Zanocelo, Lucas Mugni, and Dieguinho (Fernando Sobral); Galeano (Lourenço), Fernandinho, and Pedro Raul Coach: Léo Condé

How was the match?

First half

Palmeiras squandered a great chance to open the scoring eight minutes into the first half. Larson played a good through ball to Sosa, who went one-on-one with goalkeeper Bruno Ferreira but chipped poorly and sent it wide. Ceará responded immediately with a set piece and took the lead. Lucas Mugni sent the ball into the box, Willian Machado headed it back across goal, and Pedro Raul appeared unmarked to finish past Marcelo Lomba.

Facundo Torres equalized for Verdão at the 16-minute mark. Giay took a throw-in to Bruno Fuchs, who controlled with space and crossed to the far post for the Uruguayan to volley home, beating Bruno Ferreira. After a better start from Ceará, Verdão improved and began creating more chances. In the 27th minute, Larson collected a rebound at the edge of the box and shot just wide.

Marcelo Lomba saved Palmeiras from conceding a second goal in the 36th minute after a dangerous shot from Dieguinho. Shortly after, Verdão threatened again. Larson received from Facundo and played a good pass to Mauricio, who shot on goal but was flagged offside.

Second half

Palmeiras returned with more intensity in the second half. Before the ten-minute mark, Flaco López had two good opportunities. In the first, he was blocked, and in the second, he headed over the bar. In the 15th minute, Sosa was fouled near the box, took the free kick himself, and scored Verdão’s second.

Four minutes later, Flaco López got his goal. Mauricio played Jefté down the left, he crossed into the middle, and Flaco López finished for the goal. Soon after, Ceará had a chance to pull one back. Rafael Ramos crossed into the box, Pedro Raul dribbled past Giay but sent his shot wide. In the 31st minute, Lomba parried a long-range effort. Ten minutes later, from a free kick, Lourenço hit the post.

Next matches

With the end of the Brazilian Championship, Palmeiras and Ceará now go on vacation and will then focus on the 2026 season. In January, Verdão will debut in the Campeonato Paulista against Portuguesa, while Ceará will kick off the Campeonato Cearense against Floresta. Both teams will play their first state championship matches away from home.

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