Ponte Preta: 15 Games Without a Win After Red Card Loss

How did the red card change the match against Ceará?

Right-back Júlio received two yellow cards within just 20 minutes, leaving Ponte Preta with ten men for the remaining 70 minutes of the match. Coach Márcio Zanardi was blunt: before that moment, the team had been competitive; after it, everything changed.

Did Ponte Preta create any chances despite being a man down?

Yes — Zanardi confirmed the team had five goal-scoring opportunities during the match. The best came at the 40-minute mark, when Brandão had a clear chance but failed to convert. Lucca broke the deadlock for Ceará nine minutes after the red card, and the Alvinegro from the northeast sealed a 2-0 victory at the Castelão.

What problems are piling up off the pitch?

Ponte Preta's crisis extends far beyond tactics. The club still cannot register new signings due to three active transfer bans — one from the CNRD and two from FIFA — meaning reinforcements contracted for this stage of the season remain ineligible. Delayed salary payments are also affecting the squad's morale, according to Zanardi, who called on the board to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. To make things worse, several players left the Castelão pitch with physical problems, leaving the squad thin heading into the next fixture.

How bad is the current run?

The defeat extended Ponte Preta's winless streak to 15 consecutive matches in the Série B. With only nine points from 21 rounds — a win rate of roughly 14% — the club sits in a historically poor position. The run is already the second longest without a win in the competition this century, trailing only ABC's 19-game drought in 2015. Since Zanardi took charge, the record reads: eight defeats and one draw in nine games.

What comes next?

Ponte Preta return to action next Friday against Náutico at the Moisés Lucarelli in Round 22 of the Série B. Zanardi noted the squad could have as few as 17 available players for that game.