Vitória's 2026 Copa do Brasil campaign

On 6 August 2026, Athletico-PR won the second leg 2-0, taking the round-of-16 tie 4-0 on aggregate and leaving Vitória needing three goals to stay alive. The next day, 7 August 2026, Vitória responded with a 4-0 victory at the Barradão, erasing the deficit and moving into the quarter-finals.

Striker Renê scored twice during the comeback, bringing his tournament total to six goals and placing him at the top of the scoring charts. Coach Jair Ventura attributed the success to an aggressive tactical approach and high-pressure marking, noting that the team continued to make offensive substitutions even while leading 3-0 to maintain intensity.

Following the victory, Ventura mocked Athletico-PR boss Odair Hellmann, suggesting that the opposition needed to study Vitória's tactical versatility more closely. Ventura also highlighted the significance of the win by noting that Vitória had eliminated the second and third-placed teams from the Campeonato Brasileiro. The win lifted Vitória’s prize total to R$9 million and set up a forthcoming league match against Flamengo.