The Geopolitics of the Table: Analysis of the 35th Round

The 35th round of the 2025 Brazilian Championship wasn't just about accumulating points; it acted as a revealer of the character of the institutions involved. A detailed analysis of the results exposes emotional fragilities and physical exhaustion that contradict the financial logic of the "superclubs".

The Battle for the Title: Hegemony, Hesitation, and the "Fear of Winning"

The prevailing narrative in sports media, echoed by analysts, suggests a "championship of errors" scenario, where the title will be inherited by the team that commits the fewest catastrophic mistakes, rather than being won by the team that plays the most attractive football.

Flamengo: The Illusion of Stability at the Maracanã

On November 22, 2025, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo hosted Red Bull Bragantino at the Maracanã and delivered a resounding 3-0 victory. At first glance, the result suggests a return to dominance. The offensive performance, criticized in previous rounds for its lack of effectiveness, seems to have found its footing in the final stretch. However, a deeper analysis of the media discourse reveals skepticism. The victory over Bragantino, although expressive in terms of score, is contextualized within a season of extreme fluctuations. The narrative of a "heroic comeback" is tempting, but analysts question whether Flamengo is winning through tactical merit or simply capitalizing on the physical collapse of its direct rivals. The lopsided score serves, however, to inflame the "Nation," creating a "we've already won" atmosphere that historically precedes sporting tragedies or epic triumphs. For this column, the irony lies in the bipolarity of the fans: the same crowd that booed the team two rounds ago now fills the Maracanã with the certainty of the title.

Palmeiras: Tactical Paralysis at Allianz Parque

The 0-0 draw against Fluminense, which took place at Allianz Parque on November 22nd, represents the negative turning point of the round. Playing at home against an opponent that is inconsistent in the competition, a victory was absolutely necessary for a team chasing the leader.

The result exposes an excess of "following the rules" of austerity or pragmatism, to the detriment of the boldness necessary for decisive moments. Abel Ferreira's Palmeiras, frequently praised for its mental strength, showed signs of paralyzing anxiety. The inability to break through Fluminense's defensive block was not just a statistical stumble; it was a psychological blow. The media exploits the narrative that Palmeiras "choked" under the pressure of having to win to keep chasing Flamengo. For the sake of humor in this column, the image of a millionaire team unable to score a goal in 90 minutes in front of its fans is a perfect target for satire on "effectiveness versus efficiency".

Botafogo: The Drama of the "Paraguayan Horse" and Physical Redemption

The match between Botafogo and Grêmio, which ended 3-2 for the Rio de Janeiro team on November 22nd, was undoubtedly the most dramatic game of the round. Physical exhaustion is Botafogo's main adversary.

The Rio de Janeiro club is experiencing a paradox: it remains in the fight for the title (or a direct spot in the top four) while operating at the physiological limit of its athletes. The expectation that Botafogo would be a "Patriot missile"—precise, technological, and lethal—has been replaced by the reality of a team that wins "by the skin of its teeth." The game against Grêmio perfectly illustrates this: Botafogo took the lead, conceded the equalizer, and sought victory based on desperation and individual skill, contradicting the logic of tactical control. A crucial cultural detail emerges from this game: the viral celebration of the Cuiabano full-back. Upon scoring, the player ran to dance with the Botafogo cheerleaders, a breach of protocol that instantly went viral on social media. This moment is the essence of the "Weekly Pickup Game": football as a pop spectacle. The "Cuiabano dance" offers a perfect visual metaphor for a team that, even staggering from fatigue, still finds the energy for the show.

The Relegation Zone: The Graveyard of Giants

If the title race is marked by hesitation, the fight against relegation (Z4) is defined by raw despair and the impending tragedy of century-old institutions. Round 35 was particularly cruel to Vasco da Gama, Corinthians, and Santos.

Vasco da Gama's Calvary and the Digital Reaction

Vasco da Gama's 1-0 defeat to Bahia at Arena Fonte Nova marked the team's fifth consecutive loss in the championship. Erick Pulga's goal not only secured the three points for Bahia, putting them back in the fight for a Libertadores spot, but also pushed Vasco into a deep existential crisis.

Corinthians' Humiliation at Mineirão

Corinthians suffered a devastating setback, losing 3-0 to Cruzeiro at the Mineirão stadium. The lopsided score reflects a complete defensive collapse, but media coverage focused on the perceived "lack of respect" shown to the club's idols.

The presence of international stars in the squad, such as Memphis Depay, makes the defeat even more ironic and bitter. The massive investment in "brand name" did not translate into competitive solidity. For this column, the joke lies in the discrepancy between the marketing (the "Hollywood" Corinthians) and the reality (the "amateur" football presented in Belo Horizonte).

Santos and the Ghost of Serie B

Santos' 1-1 draw with Mirassol puts the Vila Belmiro team in an extremely dangerous situation. Mirassol, a club from the interior of São Paulo with a fraction of Santos' budget, played on equal terms, exposing the technical decline of Peixe (Santos' nickname). The upcoming game against Internacional is being treated by the press in Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo as a "life or death" event. The possibility of another relegation, or of failing to gain promotion (depending on the exact context of the 2025 table, where Santos seems to oscillate between relegation and mediocrity), creates an unbearable atmosphere of tension in the Baixada Santista region.

Additional Results and Context of Serie B

To complete the picture of the round, it's necessary to mention São Paulo's 2-0 victory over Atlético-MG. This result should be interpreted in the context of the Copa Sudamericana final. Atlético-MG, focused on the continental final against Lanús (where they were ultimately defeated on penalties in Asunción, Paraguay), entered the Brasileirão match demobilized or with reserve players. São Paulo, efficiently fulfilling their schedule, took advantage of the situation.

In Série B, the "scorched earth" scenario was also present. Criciúma lost to Cuiabá 1-0, squandering the chance for promotion, while Coritiba became champion, guaranteeing their return to the elite. This "up and down" movement reinforces the cyclical and cruel nature of Brazilian football, where glory and ruin are separated by a single round.

Table 1: Critical Summary of Round 35 (Serie A 2025)