Brazilian Serie A - Round 17 preview
With Sao Paulo and Inter deciding the Libertadores tonight, the Brazilian Serie A will see eight games played this midweek. The two remaining games (Inter x Parana and Atletico Paranaense x Sao Paulo) will be played only on September 30.
Here are the today's six games and tomorrow's two matches:
PONTE PRETA x FORTALEZA: Ponte had an important away draw at Flamengo during the weekend, and has played two strong games in a row. Against Fortaleza, the team is the favourite and should come away with the three points. The visitors, on the other hand, disappointed in a 2-1 home loss to Internacional's reserves, and should improve significantly if they wish to stand any chance of gaining at least a point.
VASCO x SAO CAETANO: Can Vasco build on the away draw against Juventude on Saturday. It certainly can, and Sao Caetano may be a great opportunity for the locals to do so. With a last-minute change in command, Sao Caetano lost coach Emerson Leao to Corinthians, and must now overcome this sudden development away from home. If Leao was still in command, Sao Caetano could naturally gain at least a point here. Without him, Vasco regains the favouritism for the match.
SANTA CRUZ x GREMIO: Santa Cruz lost for the first time after the World Cup on the weekend, away at Sao Caetano. Coming back home may give the team an extra boost to remain clear of the relegation zone. Gremio is coming off two wins, but faced a long trip to Recife for this game, and may come short in its quest for another three points. Santa is the slight favourite, but a draw is not ruled out.
GOIAS x BOTAFOGO: Goias faces Botafogo trying to recover some ground in the standings before it's too late. After firing coach Antonio Lopes and re-hiring Geninho - who was fired by Corinthians -, the team tries to overcome the past poor performances that saw the team gain only 2 of its last 18 possible points. Botafogo sees itself back in the relegation zone after a 3-1 home loss to Palmeiras, and could have a tough time gaining a point here.
FIGUEIRENSE x FLAMENGO: Figueirense went to Sao Paulo and defeated Corinthians on Saturday, while Flamengo could only play to a scoreless draw to Ponte Preta at home. Playing in Santa Catarina, Figueirense is the slight favourite here, but must overcome a determined Flamengo team that is still dangerously close to the relegation zone. A draw is a real possibility, despite a slight favouritism for the locals.
FLUMINENSE x CORINTHIANS: New coach Emerson Leao tries to bring some life back to the defending champions. Currently in last place in the standings, Corinthians must restart winning soon if it's to escape a trip to the Second Division in 2007. Fluminense may not be the perfect candidate to do so, given the team's strong 3-2 away win over Cruzeiro during the weekend. Nevertheless, a change in command could give Corinthians the boost it needs to get at least a point here. Last month, Leao was ahead of Sao Caetano in a 2-2 away draw against Fluminense.
SANTOS x CRUZEIRO: Dropping to third place in the standings after an away draw against Parana was not what Santos fans hoped for last weekend, but in the end the result should have been considered positive. The same cannot be said about Cruzeiro, that lost 3-2 at home against Fluminense to further distance itself from the top of the table. With new coach Oswaldo Oliveira in command, the team will still face a tough challenge against Santos, which can jump to second place with a win here.
PALMEIRAS x JUVENTUDE: Palmeiras will try to continue its climb in the standings in a home game against Juventude. Coming off five wins and one draw in the six matches since the World Cup break, Palmeiras is undoubtedly the hottest team in the league right now. By keeping its concentration for this game, the team shall gain its sixth win in seven matches against Juventude, which has not played very well away from home this year.
Here are the today's six games and tomorrow's two matches:
PONTE PRETA x FORTALEZA: Ponte had an important away draw at Flamengo during the weekend, and has played two strong games in a row. Against Fortaleza, the team is the favourite and should come away with the three points. The visitors, on the other hand, disappointed in a 2-1 home loss to Internacional's reserves, and should improve significantly if they wish to stand any chance of gaining at least a point.
VASCO x SAO CAETANO: Can Vasco build on the away draw against Juventude on Saturday. It certainly can, and Sao Caetano may be a great opportunity for the locals to do so. With a last-minute change in command, Sao Caetano lost coach Emerson Leao to Corinthians, and must now overcome this sudden development away from home. If Leao was still in command, Sao Caetano could naturally gain at least a point here. Without him, Vasco regains the favouritism for the match.
SANTA CRUZ x GREMIO: Santa Cruz lost for the first time after the World Cup on the weekend, away at Sao Caetano. Coming back home may give the team an extra boost to remain clear of the relegation zone. Gremio is coming off two wins, but faced a long trip to Recife for this game, and may come short in its quest for another three points. Santa is the slight favourite, but a draw is not ruled out.
GOIAS x BOTAFOGO: Goias faces Botafogo trying to recover some ground in the standings before it's too late. After firing coach Antonio Lopes and re-hiring Geninho - who was fired by Corinthians -, the team tries to overcome the past poor performances that saw the team gain only 2 of its last 18 possible points. Botafogo sees itself back in the relegation zone after a 3-1 home loss to Palmeiras, and could have a tough time gaining a point here.
FIGUEIRENSE x FLAMENGO: Figueirense went to Sao Paulo and defeated Corinthians on Saturday, while Flamengo could only play to a scoreless draw to Ponte Preta at home. Playing in Santa Catarina, Figueirense is the slight favourite here, but must overcome a determined Flamengo team that is still dangerously close to the relegation zone. A draw is a real possibility, despite a slight favouritism for the locals.
FLUMINENSE x CORINTHIANS: New coach Emerson Leao tries to bring some life back to the defending champions. Currently in last place in the standings, Corinthians must restart winning soon if it's to escape a trip to the Second Division in 2007. Fluminense may not be the perfect candidate to do so, given the team's strong 3-2 away win over Cruzeiro during the weekend. Nevertheless, a change in command could give Corinthians the boost it needs to get at least a point here. Last month, Leao was ahead of Sao Caetano in a 2-2 away draw against Fluminense.
SANTOS x CRUZEIRO: Dropping to third place in the standings after an away draw against Parana was not what Santos fans hoped for last weekend, but in the end the result should have been considered positive. The same cannot be said about Cruzeiro, that lost 3-2 at home against Fluminense to further distance itself from the top of the table. With new coach Oswaldo Oliveira in command, the team will still face a tough challenge against Santos, which can jump to second place with a win here.
PALMEIRAS x JUVENTUDE: Palmeiras will try to continue its climb in the standings in a home game against Juventude. Coming off five wins and one draw in the six matches since the World Cup break, Palmeiras is undoubtedly the hottest team in the league right now. By keeping its concentration for this game, the team shall gain its sixth win in seven matches against Juventude, which has not played very well away from home this year.
posted by fejas @ 11:07 AM
Subscribe to Brazilian Futebol
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home