Cruzeiro Edges Closer to Libertadores Spot with Vital Win over Vitória
Cruzeiro's 3-1 win over Vitória brings them within one point of Libertadores qualification, while Flamengo leads the league after beating Bragantino.
- • Cruzeiro defeated Vitória 3-1, moving to sixth place with 45 points.
- • They are one point behind Bahia, who holds the last Libertadores spot.
- • Flamengo won 2-1 against Bragantino, maintaining first place with 60 points.
- • Pedro praised Flamengo's performance and commented on Maracanã's pitch conditions.
Key details
On September 20, 2026, Cruzeiro secured a significant 3-1 victory against Vitória in Salvador during the 28th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro, pushing them nearer to a Copa Libertadores qualification spot. Despite conceding an early goal to Vítoria's Renê Sousa in the first half, Cruzeiro quickly turned the match around shortly after the break with goals by Kenny Arroyo, Lucas Villalba, and Matheus Pereira. This win elevated Cruzeiro to sixth place in the league standings with 45 points, just one point behind Bahia who occupies the fifth and final Libertadores qualification position.
Meanwhile, Flamengo maintained their dominance at the top of the table with a 2-1 home win over Red Bull Bragantino at Maracanã. Goals from Guillermo Varela and Pedro secured the victory despite a late consolation goal from Bragantino's Ignacio Sosa. Flamengo now leads the league with 60 points, three ahead of second-placed Palmeiras. Pedro praised Flamengo's overall performance, acknowledging multiple scoring opportunities and commenting on the poor condition of the Maracanã pitch, though he emphasized it was not an excuse.
Cruzeiro’s recent form positions them as strong contenders to break into the Libertadores qualification zone as the Campeonato Brasileiro season approaches its final stages.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (2)
Source comparison
Goals scored by Bragantino
Sources report different goal scorers for Bragantino.
agenciaesporte.com.br
"Bragantino managed to score a late goal through Ignacio Sosa."
cnnbrasil.com.br
"an own goal by Bruno Henrique reduced the deficit for Bragantino."
Why this matters: One source states Bragantino scored through Ignacio Sosa, while the other claims it was an own goal by Bruno Henrique. This discrepancy affects the understanding of how the match unfolded for Bragantino.