Ceará's journey in the 2025 Copa do Brasil came to an end on Thursday (May 22) after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Palmeiras at Allianz Parque in São Paulo. The loss, combined with their previous 1-0 home defeat, saw the team eliminated from the national competition in the third round.

Coach Léo Condé reflected on the elimination, noting that the scoreline was harsh considering how his team competed on the field. "We expected a very difficult game. It's always complicated playing against Palmeiras, especially here at their home ground," Condé said after the match.

"We were well-marked from the beginning and couldn't break through Palmeiras' defense or develop our game properly. As time passed, we adapted to the field, gained confidence, and started to balance the match. We had a great chance with Pedro Henrique, who scored a goal that was disallowed for a marginal offside," he explained.

Condé added that his team made tactical adjustments and returned stronger after halftime, but conceding a penalty proved costly. "At the moment when we started to create opportunities with Rafael Ramos and Galeano, we committed a penalty. The team felt it hard, and with Palmeiras ahead, we had to push forward, which exposed us to their best quality—quick transitions."

Pedro Raul's Sacrifice

One of the surprising elements in Ceará's lineup was the inclusion of striker Pedro Raul, who had suffered a serious ankle sprain in the team's 2-0 victory against Sport on Saturday (May 17). Despite being doubtful for the match, the forward played the full 90 minutes.

"Pedro Raul really had a severe sprain in the last game and had to be substituted at halftime. After treatment with the medical department, he wasn't 100%, but he played through the pain and managed to perform well with good movement. We just lacked better coordination with him at different moments of the game," Condé revealed.

With this elimination, Ceará exits the Copa do Brasil having earned R$5.6 million in prize money. The football department's goal had been to reach at least the round of 16, making this an early disappointment for the club.

Condé acknowledged the quality of their opponents, particularly highlighting young talent Estêvão, who was decisive in two key moments of the match. "Palmeiras is extremely qualified, well-trained, and one of the best teams in South America, but what made the difference was Brazilian talent—Estêvão is a phenomenon who practically decided the game with two plays."

The coach concluded that despite the disappointing result, the experience would serve as a learning opportunity for other competitions ahead.