Bola Rolando: Flamengo charges for the title, Operário seeks a miracle and CBF becomes target of criticism

The 2026 Brazilian Championship enters its decisive line, with intense disputes for the title, for the access vacancies and against the relegation. In the column Bola Rolando, this Friday (30), the highlight is the advantage built by Flamengo in the Série A, the complicated situation of the Operário Ferroviário in the B Series and the controversy involving the summons of the Seleção Brasileira.

Flamengo opens up the lead and is closer to the Brazilian title

The 33rd round of the Série A brought important results for the classification. Flamengo beat Vasco 4-1 in the Estádio Nilton Santos, and reached 73 points, opening three points ahead of Palmeiras.

With only five rounds remaining, the Carioca team appears as the main favorite to conquer the national title.

Palmeiras, in turn, stumbled in front of Santos and stayed in the draw. A result that, in my assessment, greatly complicated his title claims.

Flamengo has a stronger roster, greater investment and goes through a moment higher than the São Paulo opponent. This does not mean that the dispute is over, but the built-in advantage is too important to ignore.

The Cruzeiro also won an expressive result by beating Atlético-MG 1-0 in the classic mineiro, reaching 57 points and strengthening their fight for a spot in the Libertadores.

Athletico-PR lost to Grêmio 2 to 0, while Fluminense beat Bahia 3 to 2. These results keep the dispute for the first positions of the table sharp.

Corinthians faces dramatic situation in fight against relegation

If at the top Flamengo moves to the title, at the bottom the situation is of concern for traditional clubs.

Corinthians face Mirassol on Friday (30), at 8 pm, in the Neo Química Arena, desperately in need of a win.

The São Paulo team comes to the confrontation with only 33 points and a worrying sequence of ten games without winning, accumulating nine defeats and a draw.

It is a very bad performance for a club of the dimension of Corinthians.

Mirassol, despite being also involved in the relegation dispute, arrives at a better time. In my assessment, he enters as a favorite, even acting outside the house.

Another important confrontation takes place on Saturday (31), between Coritiba and Vitória. The teams are close in the classification and the result may have a direct influence on the fight for staying in the Série A.

With so few games left, each point wasted can be expensive.

Series B: Worker needs a miracle and Novorizontino looks at the title

In Series B, the situation begins to get even more defined.

The 36th round presents important confrontations both in the dispute for access and in the fight against relegation.

Operário Ferroviário, representative of Ponta Grossa, faces Novorizontino on Sunday (1 November), away from home.

The ghost situation is complicated. Although there are still mathematical possibilities, I do not believe that the Worker can achieve his goals in this final line.

The opponent is precisely one of the main candidates for the title of Serie B and access to the elite of Brazilian football.

The Novorizontino arrives strengthened and appears as a favorite in front of a Worker who would need a very difficult combination of results to significantly improve his position on the table.

For the Ponta Grossa fan, it remains to keep track of the team’s performance and evaluate what needs to be corrected for the next season.

Criciúma, Juventude and Vila Nova enter into decisive disputes

Another important Serie B confrontation takes place on Friday, when Criciúma receives the Ponte Preta, at 7:30 pm, at the Heriberto Hülse Stadium.

Criciúma is fifth, with 59 points, and can reach 62 in case of victory.

Despite the favoritism in front of a Ponte Preta that faces difficulties, the team of Santa Catarina can not consider the guaranteed result.

On Saturday, the confrontation between Vila Nova and Juventude promises to move the top of the table.

The Youth appears with 64 points, while the Vila Nova has 62. It is a direct duel that may interfere with the definition of the first positions and access vacancies.

Fortaleza, CRB and Goiás are also involved in important disputes in this final straight.

At the bottom, the Avaí tries to keep alive its possibilities of staying in front of the Nautical. A defeat may represent a definitive blow to the pretensions of the Santa Catarina team, depending on the other results.

Convocation of Seleção Brasileira causes criticism of CBF

But I could not close the column without talking about a situation that I consider unacceptable.

The call for Seleção Brasileira led by Carlo Ancelotti raised questions about the criteria used by the Brazilian Football Confederation.

The main criticism is the preservation of players from Flamengo and Palmeiras, precisely the first two places of the Brazilian Championship.

While these clubs would be spared embezzlements, other teams involved in major disputes could lose athletes to the National Team's engagements.

We are talking about clubs like Cruzeiro, Athletico-PR, Fluminense and Bahia, as well as teams that still face the risk of relegation.

What is the logic of preserving two clubs and allowing others to suffer sports losses?

I do not consider this treatment fair or balanced.

The Seleção Brasileira needs to watch players and prepare their cast, of course. But the CBF should also guarantee transparent and coherent criteria, respecting the equality of conditions among the participants of the Brazilian Championship.

A national competition cannot offer certain clubs sporting advantages to the detriment of others.

Brazilian football needs organization, planning and, above all, equal criteria for everyone.

The final straight of the Brazilian Championship promises strong emotions. For some clubs, the title is getting closer. For others, the risk of downgrading turns into a nightmare.

And for the Operário Ferroviário, the challenge is to try to finish the competition in the best possible way, even in the face of a rather complicated scenario.

We talk about football again in BnT Esportes. A big hug and see you next time!

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