Athletico's darling could become a starter alongside Viveros at Atletiba

With coach Odair Hellmann's uncertainty regarding the lineup, one of the candidates to take over as a starter for Athletico in the classic against Coritiba is striker Julimar . The classic between the biggest rivals in the State takes place this Sunday (19), at 6:30 pm, at the Couto Pereira stadium, in Curitiba.

Having recovered from a virus that sidelined him in the losses to Atlético-GO and Remo, the 24-year-old forward came on at halftime in the defeat against Avaí. With some good moments, despite missing a clear chance, Julimar raised the level of the red-and-black attack, especially with Luiz Fernando's poor form.

Given this scenario, Julimar's chances of securing a starting spot against Coxa increase. Assistant coach Fábio Moreno, who was on the sidelines due to Odair's suspension in the last round, praised the forward's inclusion alongside Colombian Kevin Viveros.

"Julimar and Viveros understand each other because they attract the defenders' attention and share the responsibility. I think it's a good connection. In that sense, having Julimar and Viveros back, who finally scored a goal [at the Arena] and gives him a little more comfort, creates a positive scenario for us in Atletiba," he declared.

The Hurricane's assistant had also highlighted Viveros's chemistry with Steven Mendoza, who became a certain out following his red card in the altercation with Avaí goalkeeper César . Defender Carlos Terán, who was also involved in the altercation, is another significant absence for coach Odair Hellmann.

Julimar recovered from his second cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, suffered at the end of 2024, when he was one of Athletico's standout performers in their centennial relegation campaign. He sat out the final rounds of the Brasileirão, but despite the relegation, the striker finished the season on a high note. He scored nine goals and provided three assists in 55 matches.

This year, Julimar returned to the field at the end of August after nine months of recovery, and has played eight games, seven in Série B and one in the Copa do Brasil. He has played 277 minutes on the field, or an average of 34.6 minutes per game.

With his recovery from the virus, Odair's coaching staff hopes that Julimar will have a longer following.

"It's worth remembering that Julimar went through a health issue and lost several pounds. We often have to keep our information to the outside world. But Julimar is a very dedicated guy and has faced some issues that prevented him from achieving the success he deserved," added assistant coach Fábio Moreno.

In seventh place with 49 points, four less than fourth-placed Goiás, Athletico needs to beat leaders Coritiba to stay in the fight for promotion.

According to mathematician Tristão Garcia, the magic number to secure promotion is 63 points. According to this calculation, Athletico needs 14 points out of the remaining 18, as there are six games remaining in Série B. In other words, this means that Furacão needs five wins in its final six games.

• Coritiba x Athletico – Sunday (10/19), at 6:30 pm, at Couto Pereira – 33rd round
• Athletico x Amazonas – Monday (10/27), at 9:30 pm, at Arena da Baixada – 34th round
• Goiás x Athletico – Saturday (11/01), at 4 pm, in Serrinha – 35th round
• Athletico x Volta Redonda – Saturday (11/08), at 6:30 pm, at Arena da Baixada – 36th round
• Ferroviária x Athletic – to be defined (14, 15 or 16/11) – 37th round
• Athletico x América-MG – to be defined (11/22) – 38th round

You can experience the excitement of Série B 2025 by placing your bets at the best legal betting sites covering the competition.

On the platforms listed, you can bet on the final result of all matches and on alternative markets, such as total goals, draw void bet, etc. There are also long-term bets, such as the competition winner, relegation, and whether the club will gain promotion.

See below our suggestion of the 5 best betting platforms for Série B:

As you can see, each recommended bookmaker has its own unique advantages. Betano, for example, is more suitable for those seeking high odds, while Betnacional, which is simpler to use and has no minimum withdrawal amount, is better for beginners.

Whatever your choice, the most important thing is to bet responsibly , treating betting as entertainment for those over 18 , not as a way to earn extra income. Good luck!

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