Summary, goals and results for Brazil

The Albiceleste, with a header from Otamendi, won a very hot superclásico marked by very serious incidents in the stands

Brazil, which had some minutes of merit, is in free fall and adds, with Fernando Diniz, its third consecutive defeat in the qualifying phase for the World Cup

The world champion signed another ‘Maracanazo’ (0-1) in a superclassic qualification for the 2026 World Cup that was about to be cancelled. Before the ball rolled, there was a pitched battle that began during the playing of the Argentine anthem in one of the Maracaná pools between fans of the two countries, who incomprehensibly were not physically separated, and with the Military Police of Rio (one of the most violent and lethal on the planet) using thoroughly anti-riot material.

The Argentine soccer players, some of whom had relatives in that sector of the Rio Coliseum, moved in weight to that area. Some, like Dibu Martínez, rebuked the security forces. It was impossible to play like that. And Leo Messi, acting as supreme leader and captain, ordered his team to retreat to the locker room.

For a few (endless) minutes the possibility of suspending the match hovered. Argentina asked for fifteen minutes for the absolutely exalted tempers to calm down.

More tension than football

When the world champion returned to the pitch, with the police having a security cordon separating the fans in the conflicting stands, there was one of the images of the night. Messi, and his teammate De Paul, had a very harsh talk with the Real Madrid player Rodrygo in which sparks flew. The climate was very rare.

Half an hour later than planned, having given the world embarrassing images that remind us how much South American football still has to evolve in the organizational part, the ball rolled.

So, instead of one of the most traditional national team classics on the planet, another battle began. Both teams came out too revved up. The Brazilians passed back, with Raphinha and Gabriel Jesusreprimanded before the first quarter of an hour for slapping each other From Paul. The first third of the first half was a guerrilla war, a literal exchange of blows, kicks and punches.

The clash, however, evolved and took the form of a soccer match. Argentina, which had four natural midfielders compared to Brazil’s only two, took the ball and tried to put the classic to sleep. And, in part, it turned out well, because it was ineffective at the top and did not worry others. Alisson.

The Seleçao, imbued with the electricity that its coach gives off and preaches, Fernando Dinizhad two very clear opportunities to take the lead: a direct free kick from Raphinha that the barrier rejected a corner, and a shot by Bruno Guimares (one of the best in Brazil) that Cuti Romero took off the goal line with Draw Martínez sold.

Brazil believed it and, coinciding with the start of the second half, scored a quarter of an hour of great merit, in which Raphinha and Gabriel Jesus They had the 1-0 at their feet.

Argentina pulled off a stroke of genius. At the exit of a corner, Otamendi, with a header, overcame the mismatch in the mark of André and Gabriel Magalhaes. With Diniz, six of the seven goals conceded have been from above. Everything ended there.

Scaloni’s men, pulling by trade, controlled the final stretch of the superclassic very well. Brazil became smaller and ended up being booed by its own ‘twist’. He ends the day in a blushing sixth position, after having lost the last three games: in Montevideo, in Barranquilla against Colombia and now against Argentina, which reaffirms itself in first position in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.