Overview
- Atlético-MG beat Ceará 2-1 on Thursday in Belo Horizonte, with Mateo Cassierra opening the scoring, Wendel Silva leveling, and Renan Lodi hitting the winner.
- Ceará’s starting goalkeeper Richard left in the first half with a shoulder issue and went for tests, with coach Mozart saying the diagnosis was not yet known as one outlet reported a clavicle trauma.
- In this two-leg knockout, Atlético advances with any draw in the return match on May 13, while Ceará must win by two to go through or by one to take it to penalties.
- Mozart said Ceará’s approach at home must be more aggressive, and Atlético coach Eduardo Domínguez said he subbed Cassierra early to preserve him for Sunday’s league game against Flamengo.
- Ceará is balancing Série B and the Copa do Nordeste after a trip from Londrina, and Atlético is managing minutes for Brasileirão duties, which shaped cautious tactics and rotation in this first leg.