Coritiba draw goalless with Athletic, becoming first team to celebrate access to national elite

After two seasons, Coritiba guaranteed access to the club. Brazil Championship Series B With one round left to go, he joined the national elite. They finished the game in a scoreless draw on Saturday afternoon. athletic More than 33,000 fans attended the 37th round match which took place at Couto Pereira in Curitiba (PR).

Coritiba has 65 points, falling short of first-place Criciuma, who is outside of G-4, and can only reach 64 points. G-4 still has Athletico-PR (59 points) with two games left and Chapecoense. rowing (both 59 years old), will play only one more time. Only Atlético still have a chance of snatching the title from their Paraná rivals.

Athletic have reached 41 points and are in 15th place, but are still in the fight for relegation. Z-4’s opening match will be at Ferroviaria, where they are 17th in the standings with 40 points, but will be competing in Sunday’s Athletico PR match.

Coritiba, who won the championship in 1985, returned to Serie A after two seasons in Serie B. The team dropped in the standings in 2023, finishing in 19th place with 30 points. Last year, it ranked 12th and was unable to gain access. This season, the team had a very regular campaign, spending the entire competition in first place. Although the team has scored only 37 goals, they have shown the best defense, conceding just 22 goals so far.

Mozart Santos is the only one to have had a consistent season as manager, appearing in 36 of the 37 games so far. Because he was sent off in the previous match, he only missed the 7th match against Goias. Another highlight of this season was Josue, number 10, who scored six goals in Series B and became the team’s top scorer. However, he missed this Saturday’s game due to a suspension.

Access has not been easy as Athletic is fighting for survival. In the first half, Coritiba felt the weight of the match and showed some tension. The first good score came from Athletic, who had few chances in the first half.

The Minas Gerais team’s best chance came when Gerardes received a beautiful deep pass on the left side of the area. He went to the baseline and played backwards. Torraon took the lead with a half-volley, but ended up slipping and being sent off.

Moments later, Coritiba almost scored the first goal, but was stopped by the post. When he delivered a cross, De La Torre, who is the team’s top scorer with 10 goals this season, took possession of the ball and finished. The ball deflected off Jonathan’s path and hit the post.

The tension continued in the second half. A draw would guarantee a spot, but a win would give Coritiba the outright title and deprive arch-rivals Athletico of a chance. Coritiba tried to push his team forward, albeit a little panicked, but got scared when Iuri Castillo headed the ball.

Athletic responded with a corner kick, which was headed in by Marcelo Azur and the ball flew close to the post. Then Coritiba’s big chance came. Everard rose up in the area and the ball slipped through the defense, catching Delatorre by surprise in a tight area. I avoided it at first, but went outside. The Paraná men kept up the pressure and Lucas Ronnier tried again wide from outside the area.

In added time, Lucas Ronnier received a low ball at the second post and fired a shot into a narrow area, but Adriel saved. Despite the pressure until the end, Coritiba was unable to clinch the title, but he did celebrate his victory, although the fans initially booed loudly and then began celebrating.

In the final match, Coritiba will face Amazonas, who have already been relegated, at the Carlos Zamiz Stadium in Manaus (AM) to end the season. Athletic will face Paysandu, who have also already been relegated, at the Arena Sicledi in São João del Rey (MG). All games are scheduled for 4:30pm on Sunday (23rd), although some games may be brought forward if they do not interfere with qualification or relegation issues.

it’s over! Dear fans, we are in Series A. We are back in the elite of Brazilian soccer. Access is guaranteed!

To all the fans, please celebrate!! ????

?? #CFCxATH #kokusanobrazireiro pic.twitter.com/GZi3ykkzhX

— Coritiba (@Coritiba) November 15, 2025

technical sheet

Coritiba 0 X 0 Athletic-MG

• Coritiba – Pedro Morisco; Alex Silva (Zeca), Maicon, Jaycee, Bruno Melo (Joao Almeida). Sebastian Gomez, Vini Paulista (Machado), Carlos de Peña (Everardo). Lucas Ronnier, Delatorre, Iuri Castillo (Gustavo Coutinho). technical: Mozart Santos.
• athletic – Adriel; Douglas Pelle, Jonathan, Marcelo Azul, Wesley Gasolina. Joao Miguel (Fabricio Isidro), Fernando Martinez, Gerardes (Arazon Carioca). Wellington Traon (Ezequiel), Neto Costa (Gabriel Endio), Guilherme Cachoeira (Cowan Lindes). technical: Louis Duarte.
• yellow card – Joao Almeida and Gustavo Coutinho (Coritiba). Jonathan, Marcelo Azur, João Miguel, Fernando Martinez, Neto Costa (Athletic).
• arbitrator – Bruno Arrou de Araujo (RJ).
• public – 31,922 people paid (33,648 currently).
• income – 579,554.00 Real.
• position – Couto Pereira Stadium, Curitiba (PR).