Brasileirão Round 28: Intense Classics and Key Absences Shake Up the Competition
The 28th round of Brasileirão features intense classic matches alongside significant player absences affecting team strategies post-FIFA break.
- • Botafogo vs Flamengo and Santos vs Corinthians are the standout matches in round 28.
- • Many teams, including Atlético-MG and Bahia, face important player absences due to injuries and suspensions.
- • Key players missing include Neymar (Santos), Igor Gomes (Atlético-MG), and Dorival Júnior (Corinthians coach).
- • Refereeing controversies continue to influence team line-ups and availability in the league.
Key details
The 28th round of the 2025 Brasileirão has resumed with two highly anticipated classic encounters: Botafogo versus Flamengo at Estádio Nilton Santos and Santos against Corinthians at Vila Belmiro. These clashes come after the FIFA international break and are marked by fierce competition and several significant absences due to suspensions and injuries.
Botafogo will be without nine players for their match against Flamengo, who are also dealing with key player absences. Despite this, Botafogo is banking on players like Savarino and Matheus Martins, who have impressive scoring records against Flamengo. Savarino has netted three times in ten matches (30% scoring rate), while Matheus Martins boasts three goals in eight matches (37.5%). For Flamengo, Bruno Henrique remains a major offensive threat, having scored seven goals in 17 games against Botafogo with a 41% scoring rate. Arrascaeta is also crucial this season, topping Flamengo’s charts with 19 goals in 49 matches.
Santos faces a major setback, missing star forward Neymar, while Corinthians will be without their head coach Dorival Júnior due to suspension and multiple players sidelined. Atlético-MG is particularly hard hit, missing 11 players for their match against Cruzeiro, including Igor Gomes. Bahia will not have four key players for their game against Vitória. Other teams like Fortaleza, Grêmio, and São Paulo likewise face critical absences.
Refereeing controversies continue to affect the league’s landscape. Grêmio, among others, is challenging red cards issued in previous matches, indicating the ongoing impact of officiating decisions on team compositions and the season’s dynamics.
These lineup disruptions add an unpredictable edge to what are already pivotal matches influencing the title race and qualification for continental tournaments. Fans can expect high drama as teams strive to perform at full throttle despite the challenges posed by international duty and disciplinary setbacks.