Aspirants or main? Athletico has doubts about which team to use in the Paranaense semi-final

Athletico will still decide whether to use the aspiring team or the main squad in the return duel against London. After the 2-2 draw at the Café stadium, the teams will face each other again next Sunday (22), at 4pm, at the Arena da Baixada, in Curitiba, to decide who advances to the final of the Paraná Championship.

Furacão is experiencing conflict over the debut of the under-20 Brasileirão. The category team, led by João, faces Vasco da Gama this Friday (20), at 3pm, in Rio de Janeiro. The Rubro-Negro main team faces Corinthians this Thursday (19), at 7:30 pm, in a delayed game of the second round of the Brasileirão 2026.

“It’s something that we will define very carefully about how the preparation for this game will be. Regardless of who plays in the next game, whether we reach the final or not, the legacy has been built. Between whoever takes the field, we will do everything to be in the Paranaense final and become champions again”pointed out João Correia.

According to an investigation by the OneTwo Sportsthe tendency is for Odair Hellmann to stay on the bench and use the main squad. However, the tendency is for some starting players to be left out so that there is no overload. This is the case of left-back Lucas Esquivel, defender Carlos Terán and midfielder Juan Portilla, names that Odair has already declared are still working to increase their physical capacity at the start of the season.

Within this scenario, some reserves should be used again in the State, as happened in the first game against Londrina. The starting defenders, for example, were Aguirre and Léo Pelé, while midfielder Raul and striker Leozinho came off the bench in the second half.

“I feel happy”says aspiring coach

Asked about an assessment of his own work, coach João Correia was honest and said he was challenged when taking on the team of aspirants throughout the Paranaense Championship. It is worth remembering that, when he took over the main team on an interim basis throughout Series B, in 2025, he became the youngest coach in red-black history.

“It’s a team effort, well done on a daily basis. As long as the club gives me two things, which I think are very important, which is to feel good within the club. I feel happy, I like the people I work with. And it challenges me. QI want to feel challenged and I want the commission challenged. This Paranaense was a gigantic challenge. As long as I feel good and challenged, Athletico will certainly continue to count on me and I will continue to be at Athletico.”he declared.

It is worth remembering that, this season, the Portuguese coach, who is 32 years old, has four wins, two draws and one defeat in seven games. In other words, João has a 66.6% success rate, with 15 goals scored and eight conceded.

Schedule: see the list of Athletico’s next games

• Athletico x Corinthians — Thursday (19/02), at 7:30 pm, at Arena da Baixada, in Curitiba
• Athletico x Londrina — Sunday (22/02), at 4pm, at Arena da Baixada, in Curitiba
• Bragantino x Athletico — Wednesday (25/02), at 7pm, at the Cícero de Souza Marques stadium, in Bragança Paulista

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