22 Jul 2026
Criciúma top of the 2026 Série B: what a 14-match unbeaten run means
The win over Novorizontino sent Criciúma clear at the top of the 2026 Série B and extended their unbeaten run to 14 matches. Under Eduardo Baptista, the team have also made it five wins in a row.
Criciúma move clear at the top
Criciúma are the outright leaders of the 2026 Série B after beating Novorizontino. To understand the significance of the result, it comes down to the combination of position and momentum: the club have not only moved ahead in the table but also maintained their place with a lengthy unbeaten run. Being outright leaders gives Criciúma control over their own campaign in the coming rounds. In a league decided by points, being out in front changes the dynamic: opponents now have the Santa Catarina side in their sights, while Criciúma can retain top spot through their own results.
Unbeaten run reaches 14 matches
The win over Novorizontino extended Criciúma's unbeaten run to 14 matches. That is more than just a good round of fixtures or an isolated result. The team have found enough consistency to go 14 games without defeat, a run that explains their rise to the top of the Série B. A sequence like this limits the damage from tight games and keeps the squad competing near the summit even when performances leave little room for error. The key point for the table is simple: during this spell, Criciúma have stopped losing points through defeats.
Five straight wins fuel their surge
As well as remaining unbeaten, Criciúma have put together five consecutive wins. That is the difference between a steady campaign and a surge capable of paving the way to outright leadership. Draws help protect an unbeaten run, but successive victories accelerate points accumulation and put direct rivals under pressure. Criciúma's current form is therefore more than just a defence of their unbeaten record. The club are turning the run into gains in league position. The win against Novorizontino confirmed that momentum in a fixture with a direct impact on the race for top spot.
What changes for Eduardo Baptista
Under Eduardo Baptista, Criciúma have combined two signs that matter in the Série B promotion race: leadership and continuity. The coach is overseeing a team who have reached first place without losing for 14 matches and with five straight wins. That strengthens the environment for the work to continue, as the results provide backing for the approach used so far. At the same time, being leaders increases the pressure. The next task is to turn the current run into a sustained spell at the top, without treating the unbeaten record as a guarantee for the rounds ahead.
What Criciúma's lead means in the 2026 Série B
Criciúma's campaign has put the club in a clear position in the 2026 Série B: they are the team to catch. The win over Novorizontino mattered because it extended two records at once—the unbeaten run to 14 matches and the winning streak to five—as well as sending Criciúma clear at the top. For supporters, the outlook is one of confidence based on recent results, not promises. For Eduardo Baptista and the squad, the challenge will be to maintain the consistency that built this advantage. Top spot is now both a snapshot of the present and a responsibility to defend.
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Analysis: PK Sport · our methodology
Analysis based on public data and market signals. For analysis only — not betting advice.