Goiás eye Brasileirão Sub-20 B title to crown season’s rise

Goiás will face Ceará this Thursday (23) in the Brasileirão U-20 B final. The match will be played at Presidente Vargas Stadium in Fortaleza, Ceará, at 8 p.m., and will be broadcast live on CBF TV’s YouTube channel. Esmeraldino head coach Gabriel Carvalho assessed the opponent and shared his expectations for the clash.

“We’re expecting a very difficult match. Ceará are a very strong team, not only physically, but also technically and tactically. They’re a team that still hasn’t lost this year, so they have all our respect, but we also come into it backed by our recent results and the good performances we’ve had in our last few matches. I’m sure it will be a very balanced game, decided by the details, a final that is important for both sides. We’ll prepare in the best way possible, and I’m sure it will be a great match for everyone watching", he said.

Goiás have put together a campaign of steady improvement. The team lost its first two matches in the Brasileirão, but then recovered and has remained unbeaten since. In total, they have recorded five wins, two losses and two draws. Esmeraldino scored 14 goals and conceded seven.

Gabriel Carvalho is Goiás’ U-20 team head coachCredits: Heber Gomes/Goiás

In the group stage, the Goiás side finished fourth in Group A. In the quarterfinals, they eliminated Atlético-GO with a 1-0 win. In the semifinal, they drew 1-1 with CRB and secured their place in the final on penalties (4-2). The coach assessed Verdão’s journey.

“It has been a campaign of recovery and development. We didn’t start the competition well, with a loss against Ceará themselves, then another negative result against Atlético Mineiro, but as the work progressed and some ideas developed, we didn’t lose again, not only in terms of results, but also in terms of the quality of our play and the response from the players themselves. I think we come into this final strengthened by the results and the good performances we’ve had", he stated.

Goiás are finalists in the 2026 Brasileirão U-20 BCredits: Heber Gomes/Goiás

Gabriel Carvalho joined Goiás this year and has already achieved the major feat of reaching the Brasileirão U-20 B final and securing promotion to the competition’s Série A. The coach commented on the feeling of reaping good results.

“It’s a feeling of great joy and pride, knowing the responsibility that comes with leading a big team in Brazilian football. Goiás had been chasing promotion to the U-20 Série A. I feel very honored to play in this final, which is historic for the club. I always emphasize that this is not work done by me alone — quite the opposite, it’s work done by many hands, with the coaching staff, management, our supporters and, above all, this group of players, who deserve not only this promotion, but also this title", he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.