Ceará beats Ponte Preta, moves clear of Z-4

How did Ceará win against Ponte Preta?

The match took place on Friday night at Arena Castelão in Fortaleza, in Round 21 of the Série B. Lucca opened the scoring in the first half, and Giulio sealed the result in the second, giving Ceará a 1–0 victory and their second consecutive win.

What did coach Daniel Paulista say about the squad's condition?

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Daniel Paulista highlighted the physical progress the squad has made, crediting a 10-day break between fixtures as a key factor. He noted that the team looked noticeably stronger and that attacking combinations — especially triangulations — were working well, particularly in the second half.

Paulista also addressed the challenge of fielding players who arrived at the club after long periods of inactivity or underuse at their previous teams. "Renzo, Mugni, Pavani, Sávio, Murillo — they arrived having to accelerate quickly," he said, adding that natural development takes time and that fans should expect improvement as the season continues.

Which players were singled out for individual assessment?

Defender Luiz Otávio returned to training only three days before the match, while Thalisson joined the squad without recent competitive minutes. Young defender Gabriel was praised for a solid, controlled performance. Paulista called for patience with the youngster, acknowledging that errors are part of his development process.

Where does Ceará stand in the Série B table?

The win lifted Ceará to 25 points after 21 rounds, moving them further away from the relegation zone (Z-4) and boosting confidence ahead of the second half of the campaign.