São Paulo and Flamengo Draw 2-2 in Intense Brasileirão Clash with Plata's Red Card Stirring Debate
São Paulo and Flamengo played an exciting 2-2 draw in the Brasileirão, with a pivotal red card for Flamengo's Plata drawing coach Filipe Luís' defense and highlighting the team's disciplinary issues.
- • São Paulo and Flamengo drew 2-2 in the 32nd round of the Campeonato Brasileiro.
- • Flamengo's Plata was sent off after a foul, impacting the match dynamics.
- • Flamengo coach Filipe Luís defended Plata, calling the red card unintentional and took responsibility for the result.
- • The draw kept São Paulo in eighth place and prevented Flamengo from leading the league temporarily.
Key details
In a thrilling and tightly contested match on November 6, 2025, São Paulo and Flamengo battled to a 2-2 draw at Vila Belmiro during the 32nd round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. São Paulo took an early lead when Luciano scored within the third minute, but Flamengo swiftly equalized via Arrascaeta's penalty just two minutes later. The first half ended with both teams creating chances but no further goals.
The second half saw Flamengo take the lead through Samuel Lino before a defining moment when Flamengo's midfielder Plata was sent off following a foul, reducing his team to ten men. São Paulo seized the opportunity and leveled the match with a goal from Ferreirinha, securing a hard-fought draw. This result preserved São Paulo's eighth-place position as they chase a Copa Libertadores spot, while Flamengo missed the chance to temporarily top the league standings, now tied at 65 points with Palmeiras at the summit.
Flamengo coach Filipe Luís addressed Plata's red card candidly, describing the incident as accidental. "A red card like Plata's today was unintentional. He aimed for the ball and ended up hitting the opponent's leg," Luís said. He praised Plata's dedication and took full responsibility for the team's performance, stating, "I will never blame a player for making such a mistake. This draw is always the coach's fault, who is the main responsible."
Luís also highlighted a concerning trend of Flamengo receiving multiple red cards in recent matches, which he believes hampers their performance, emphasizing the need to minimize mistakes during this crucial championship phase.
Meanwhile, the league saw Atlético Mineiro extend their winning streak with a 3-0 victory over Bahia, highlighted by Hulk scoring his 500th career goal. Other results included Bragantino's 2-1 win over Corinthians and Botafogo's 3-0 victory against Vasco. At the bottom, Santos slipped into the relegation zone with 33 points.
The Campeonato Brasileiro remains intensely competitive as Flamengo and Palmeiras lead the table tied on points with only a few rounds remaining and several key matches scheduled in the days ahead.