😯 Several favourites disappoint in first legs of Brazil Cup third round

Yahoo

02-05-2025

😯 Several favourites disappoint in first legs of Brazil Cup third round
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
This Thursday (1) saw the last six first-leg games of the third round of the Copa do Brasil-2025.
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And there were unexpected results since last Tuesday (29).
The difference in divisions, for example, did not make the expected difference in several duels.
Check out below the teams considered favorites that achieved good results, those that did not confirm the expected and who left a lot to be desired.
Now there will be three weeks until the return matches.
Whoever advances will guarantee a prize of R$ 3.6 million and will wait for the draw that will determine the duels of the round of 16.
See all the dates and times of the return matches here.
Already there?
Botafogo was the only one that thrashed. And it left its classification very well underway by making 4 x 0 against Capital, a team from the Federal District that competes in Serie D.
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Renato Paiva preserved a good part of the starters and, during the game, ensured the entry of some.
The current Brazilian and Libertadores champion can lose by up to three goals difference on the 22nd of this month at Mané Garrincha.
They were fine
Palmeiras x Ceará is the only confrontation between Serie A teams. That had Verdão as the favorite before the ball rolled.
The 1 x 0 victory at Castelão - extending its unbeaten streak away from home - guaranteed the advantage of the draw for the return.
Which will be played at Allianz Parque. And on the 22nd.
Flamengo also debuted in the 2025 edition of the Copa do Brasil away from home. Filipe Luís preserved starters and the victory came only in the final stretch of the match (1x0).
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The Rubro-Negro now has the advantage of the draw against Botafogo da Paraíba, which competes in Serie C. Return match on the 21st and with Maracanã as the stage.
Rogério Ceni spared. But Bahia justified its favoritism. And defeated Paysandu by 1 x 0 playing in Belém. The return will be at the Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova and with the Lobo needing a good victory to advance.
Corinthians was the other favorite that got the better as a visitor. It also did not have maximum strength, but beat Novorizontino, a Serie B team, by 1x0.
It will host Tigre at Neo Química Arena on the 21st with the advantage of the draw.
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In addition to Botafogo, only Cruzeiro won by at least two goals. It opened 2x0 after a good first half against Vila Nova, from Serie B.
That is: it will have the advantage of being able to lose by one goal at Serra Dourada (22/5).
There's still A LOT of game, huh...
Fluminense had a hard time at certain moments of the game against Aparecidense, a Serie D team. It won by 1 x 0, but left Maracanã heavily booed after a performance below expectations.
The return will be at Serra Dourada, on the 21st. The Tricolor has the advantage of the draw. The team from Aparecida de Goiânia will need to win by at least one goal difference to seek penalties.
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São Paulo fell behind, but turned around against Náutico, from Serie C. It made 2 x 1 dominating the actions and creating more chances - Timbu only got the finish of its goal.
The advantage built is good, but "dangerous", since the return will be at Aflitos, on the 20th. The tricolor crowd was hoping for a more peaceful life for the return.
Playing at Germano Krüger, Vasco opened the score. But it called Operário to its field and took the draw (1x1).
Result that could be considered good for the fact that it was away from home. But the performance was not the best. Which worries the fans even with the return being played at São Januário, on the 20th.
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Internacional had a goal annulled. It made Maracanã's goalkeeper stand out - with a penalty missed by Alan Patrick. The 1x0 victory over the Serie D rival did not "kill" the duel. Anything can happen on the 22nd, at Presidente Vargas.
Atlético Mineiro had a lot of difficulty against the praised Maringá, a team from the Third Division. It went twice behind the draw and still had a controversial move that could have ended in a penalty for the Paraná team.
The 2x2 will make Galo enter the field in its Arena on the 21st without any advantage.
Fortaleza had gone eight games without victories. But it carried favoritism over Retrô, a debutant in Serie C of the Brazilian Championship.
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It had to seek the 1 x 1 and will receive the Pernambuco team at Arena Castelão (21/5) without advantage.
Athletico is dealing with Serie B. And visited Brusque, who is in C. It was better, but did not go beyond 0 x 0. It will be the host in the return, on the 20th, but without being able to relax at Ligga Arena.
It's win... or WIN
Red Bull Bragantino had four straight wins in the Brasileirão - it's a G-4 team in the competition. But it saw Criciúma, from Serie B, take advantage with a 1 x 0 victory at Heriberto Hülse.
A result that forces Massa Bruta to return the setback to at least seek penalties. Match on the 22nd and in its new home, Cícero de Souza Marques.
It could have been WORSE
Santos did not lose. But the 1 x 1 with CRB, from Serie B, was followed by many boos and confusion inside and outside Vila Belmiro at the debut of Cléber Xavier.
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The result could have been worse if Gabriel Brazão had not defended a penalty from the regatiano team already in the final minutes of the final stage.
Is it called a fiasco?
Grêmio faced CSA, from the Third Division, and left its fans worried after another stumble with Mano Menezes: it was winning until the 86th minute and took the turnaround at Rei Pelé: 3x2.
It will receive Azulão do Mutange in front of its fans on the 20th needing to win by two goals difference to advance in regular time.
Photo: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF