The Athletic Club has advanced to the final of the Troféu Inconfidência after securing a narrow victory over the Democrata-GV, winning 1-0 during the second leg of the semifinal held on February 21, 2025, at the Arena Sicredi, located in São João del-Rei.
The showdown followed their previous encounter at the Mamudão, where the teams played to a stalemate of 0-0. This time, the only goal of the game came from Welinton Torrão, who scored at the 35th minute. The young forward, who honed his skills at Cruzeiro, headed the ball expertly past the opposing goalkeeper, Thulio, after rising high to meet a corner kick delivered from the left side.
Despite controlling the game, Athletic could have made it 2-0 right before halftime when they were awarded a penalty. Left-back Yuri stepped up to take the shot, but his powerful strike was met with Thulio’s quick reflex save, denying Athletic the additional cushion they sought.
On the other hand, the Democrata-GV had their chances as well. Just before the first half concluded, Luann found the back of the net with a stunning shot, only for it to be ruled offside by the VAR. Later, Wender came dangerously close to equalizing, hitting the post only six minutes after halftime.
Looking toward the future, Athletic awaits the victor of the match between Betim and Uberlândia, which was temporarily halted due to power generator issues at the Arena Vera Cruz. At the time of the interruption, Betim held the lead with a 1-0 scoreline, thanks to Diego Jardel’s goal from Paulo Henrique’s assist. This match is scheduled to resume on February 22 at 10:00 AM.
The reigning champions of the Troféu, Athletic is aiming for their second title and hopes their success here will lead to participation in the Copa do Brasil 2026. The finals of the Troféu are set for March 8 and 15, 2025.
Meanwhile, Athletic is gearing up for their debut match of the Copa do Brasil against Barcelona from Bahia on February 25 at 7:30 PM, set to take place at Estádio Waldomiro Borges, located in Jequié, Bahia. If they can conquer the Bahian side, they will face the celebrated Grêmio next.
The team faces busy times not only at the state level but also as they prepare for their upcoming matches as they represent Minas Gerais in the Série B of the Campeonato Brasileiro, starting with an away game against Atlético-GO, scheduled for April 4, 5, or 6.
On the flip side, the Democrata-GV has concluded their activities for the season. Despite not advancing, their performance throughout the state championship has granted them the privilege to compete in the Série D next season, beginning the 2026 campaign.