RB Bragantino v Athletico Paranaense: top-half rivals eye early Libertadores push | OneFootball

RB Bragantino host Athletico Paranaense in the Brasileirão on 25 February 2026 at Estádio Cicero de Souza Marques, with both sides on six points from three games and aiming to turn solid starts into an early climb.

RB Bragantino sit seventh and Athletico Paranaense sixth after three rounds, each with two wins and one defeat. The hosts also won both league meetings in 2024.

Braga edged their first two league outings by single goals, winning at Coritiba and then against Atlético Mineiro, before losing at Corinthians. Athletico-PR opened with victory at Internacional, beat Santos, then were edged by Corinthians.

Braga are without suspended midfielder Gabriel, while Fabrício, Guzmán Rodríguez, Vanderlan and Rodriguinho are injured. For the visitors, Alejandro García, Renan Viana and Isaac are sidelined, trimming attacking options.

Both teams have been tight early on, each conceding just two goals in three league matches, with Braga scoring two and Athletico-PR three. Margins could be fine. For Massa Bruta, forwards Fernando and Isidro Pitta may carry the threat, while Furacão could look to Kevin Viveros or Gonzalo Mastriani, with Bruno Zapelli supplying from midfield.

A win would take Braga to nine points and could push them towards the Libertadores places. Defeat may leave them in the Sudamericana pack. Athletico-PR would also reach nine with victory and could consolidate or improve on sixth to bolster their Libertadores ambitions. Next, Braga visit Grêmio, while Athletico-PR host Botafogo.