Besides the Libertadores, what is at stake for Athletico?

In eighth place, with 52 points, and without winning for six matches, the Athletico saw his chance of qualifying for the Libertadores drop to 1%. The situation is very difficult, as Furacão would need to win the remaining three games and still hope for Bragantino or Grêmio to score just once or Atlético-MG not to score again.

With this, Athletico is now looking at other objectives within the championship. President Mario Celso Petraglia himself admitted that the third South American championship should be the focus for 2024. In the competition, Furacão is almost 100% guaranteed.

+ Check out the complete Athletico table in the Brasileirão

Other motivations for the team in the last three games are the direct passage to the third phase of the Copa do Brasil and the award. To avoid the knockout stages of the national competition, which would ease the calendar at the beginning of the year, Athletico needs to be the best team among those not classified for the Libertadores.

In other words, the current position would confirm the club directly. Of the current close rivals, the one who could take this place from Furacão would be Cuiabá, the opponent from the last round, who is four points behind.

Better position in the table also guarantees more money. Last year, eighth place, for example, received R$29.2 million. The seventh won R$31.5 million. In other words, the first positions have, on average, more than R$2 million difference between them.

Finally, Athletico can still make life difficult for two football greats: Cruzeiro and Santos, next opponents, who are still fighting against relegation.

Furacão’s next match will be against Raposa this Thursday (30), at 8pm, at Mineirão, for the 36th round. The game will have fans following a new decision by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD).