Marquinhos and Brazil have secured progression to the next round of the Pre-Olympic Tournament with a game to spare, following another win on Monday.

Arsenal winger Marquinhos came off the bench in the Brazil u23s’ match against Ecuador on Monday, with the scoreline level at 1-1.

Brazil scored what would turn out to be the winning goal nine minutes later, putting them top of the group with a game to go.

But with Ecuador already having played their final game, and all the other teams sitting four or more points behind Brazil, Marquinhos’ side have already secured top spot before the last round of matches.

The top-two teams from the two groups at the tournament will qualify for a second group stage of four teams.

The two teams that finish in the top two in the second stage will then qualify for the Olympics.

Brazil have now guaranteed they’ll be part of that second stage, regardless of their result against Venezuela in their final first-stage game.

Ecuador will hope Brazil can do them a favour in that last match, as a win for Venezuela would see them progressing at Ecuador’s expense.

Brazil will now remain at the tournament until February 11th, when the final group matches of the second stage are played. Marquinhos won’t be free to return to Arsenal until after that.

“I’m very focused on having a great Pre-Olympics,” Marquinhos said earlier this month.

“[Then] to return to Arsenal confident, to continue the work there, so that, God willing, I can be at the next Olympics.”