Athletico accumulates a series of negative marks in its centenary

Athletico’s centenary year is already marked by negative marks. In the fight against relegation in the Brasileirão, Furacão won the state title and reached the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil and Copa Sudamericana.

UmDois Esportes listed the numbers that the red-and-black club has suffered this season. Check it out:

Worst sequence in Arena history

In February, the Joaquim Américo Guimarães stadium changed its name to Mario Celso Petraglia, in honor of the current president, who is considered the greatest manager in the history of Furacão. However, the change was unlucky.

Athletico recorded the worst series in its history as home team in the Brasileirão. The team is nine games without winning at its own stadium (and there are also nine rounds without winning).

The negative series began with draws against Flamengo and Corinthians, results that preceded the series of five consecutive defeats (São Paulo, Bahia, Grêmio, Juventude and Palmeiras). Afterwards, the team drew with Fortaleza and finally lost to Botafogo.

Furacão’s last triumph in Curitiba was on June 13, more than four months ago, when the team beat Criciúma 3-1 in the eighth round.

According to data from journalist and historian Osmar Rebolo Junior, Athletico went on a five-game streak without winning in three negative streaks at the Arena da Baixada, all of which were recorded in the last century. The three series took place in 1938, 1950 and 1952. At that time, the Brazilian Championship did not yet exist.

Athletico and coaching changes

Now under the command of Lucho González, Athletico has had five coaches in 2024.

This hasn’t happened since 2015 and these changes in command are seen as the club’s main mistake this year. Furthermore, Furacão also promoted an almost complete overhaul of the football department.

Rubro-Negro placed confidence in Juan Carlos Osorio at the beginning of the season, but the Colombian was fired due to internal problems shortly after the first defeat, still in the Campeonato Paranaense.

Cuca was chosen as a replacement. A self-confessed red-black fan, his work was marked by controversies from the announcement (due to the conviction overturned in Switzerland) and upon leaving (when he resigned after three consecutive draws).

O assistant Juca Antonello from the red-black permanent committee, was in charge of the team in four games. There were two wins and two defeats, that is, 50% success in the games in which the team was without a coach.

Finally, the Uruguayan Martin Varini He was fired from Athletico on the eve of the decision against Racing Club, from Argentina.

He left command of the team due to the terrible results (and performances) in the Brasileirão. The pressure of the fight against relegation made the board choose to hire Foughtwho is identified with the club because he was an idol as a player.

Athletico had an end to the taboo against Botafogo

Athletico hadn’t lost to Botafogo in Curitiba for 16 years. The Cariocas’ last triumph as a visitor was on August 3, 2008, in the Brazilian Championship. Since then, there have been 14 games, with three draws and 11 wins.

However, the cariocas’ streak of victory ended with a 1-0 victory, with a goal from striker Igor Jesus, revealed by Coritiba and who is in the starting lineup for the Brazilian team.

There are now 21 clashes between Athletico and Botafogo, at the Ligga Arena, this century. There are 14 victories for Rubro-Negro, in addition to four draws and three triumphs for the Cariocas.

Athletico centenary and goals in stoppage time

Known for having become a cup team in recent years, Athletico suffered a lot with additions in the current season. There were six games in Brasileirão 2024 in which the team let valuable points slip away.

In the first round, the team had already suffered draws against Flamengo54 minutes into the second half, Botafogoat 53 minutes, and Corinthians51 minutes into the final stage. The sequence culminated in the departure of coach Cuca, uncomfortable with the fans’ demands due to the results and with dissatisfaction in the locker room.

In the second round, Furacão suffered the draw against the Internationalwith a goal conceded in the 51st minute, and the defeats to Vasco e Flemish. Both away from home, Athletico conceded goals in the 40th and 44th minutes, respectively.

If they had added the ten points left behind, Athletico would have 41 points. This would place the club in ninth place, in the hunt for the classification zone for the Libertadores. However, the current scenario is alarming: Furacão occupies 15th position, with 31 points, two above the relegation zone.

The biggest sponsorship in Athletico’s history was suspended

If the poor results on the field weren’t enough, Athletico also had problems with its sponsor. Esportes da Sorte, the club’s official sponsor, had a license authorized to operate partially in Brazil last week. But this only happened after the club announced the suspension of sponsorship.

Based on the bookmaker’s irregularity with the federal government, as disclosed by the Ministry of Finance, Furacão continues without displaying the name of the sports betting house on its official shirt.

It is worth remembering that the contract between the parties runs until the end of 2025, with estimated values ​​between R$16 million and R$17 million per year. The announced agreement represented the largest amount of sponsorship in red-black history.

During the period in which Esportes da Sorte did not have its name released to operate in Brazil, Athletico was the only club sponsored by the company to suspend brand exposure.

In an official note, the club revealed that it notified bet “of the immediate suspension of the execution and exposure of its brand with the Club, based on contractual and legal prerogative, as well as requesting within a specified period of time that it provide clarifications on the regularity of its operation in view of of the recently reported facts.”