Neste ano de Copa do Mundo, the Copa Libertadores' group stage starts next week, and other than Chapecoense, all of the Brazilian teams who got a berth will be in the group stage. The group stage ends in mid-May and with the World Cup in Russia, the round of 16 begins in August. Grêmio Corinthians Cruzeiro Palmeiras Santos Flamengo Vasco da Gama We have the Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa do Brasil champions as well as the defending Libertadores champion and the Copa Sul-Americana runner-up. Due to time constraints in my personal life, I have less time to follow local competitions this year, and Grêmio's game last night was the first I was actually able to catch since the Club World Cup. I took a quick glance of the league tables in the estaduais to get a feel of who is doing well. I did read that Vasco is up and coming in 2018. Despite the very tough competition the Libertadores always brings, it seems that Brazil's teams are well-positioned for a deep run in 2018. Palmeiras still wants a title after all the investment it has had in recent time and Grêmio still has Luan and Arthur, and with the Recopa title, it has gotten a psychological boost to a poor start in the state tournament (not to mention prize money which the team could perhaps use for roster improvements). Whom do you guys see as Brazil's top candidate in 2018? And that's considering we'll have matchups like Santos vs. Estudiantes, Palmeiras vs. Boca Juniors, Cruzeiro vs. Vasco in the group stage.
Vasco was living dangerously last night. Good for them that their GK bailed them out of an epic choke.
Seriously - it would've been disastrous given that Vasco won 4-0 at home and that Vasco does seem like and up and coming team. Assuming you're following other RJ squads, what's your take on this Vasco? How well do you think it'll do in a group that has Racing and Cruzeiro? And your own team... Flamengo let the Copa Sul-Americana go. What are its chances in 2018?
I think Vasco has an uphill battle to get out of the group. Ze Ricardo's tactics fits Vasco's squad a lot better than it did when he was with Flamengo. I definitely think the altitude contributed to some of the 4-0 scoreline. It's very difficult for me to quantify our chances this year. Like I said in another thread, I am a conditioned skeptic -- I expect more of the same from them until they prove otherwise. As far as the Libertadores is concerned, I expect a group stage exit or an embarassing amarelada in the knockout stages. That is how the Libertadores has gone for them this century.
On YouTube trying to find a stream pre match I saw a show with 4 flamengo fans. All were predicting an easy win.. I'm excited for flamengo tô but this river plate roster is no joke. Jonas Just knocked out a guys tooth btw lol
It was typical, do you think Diego Alves could have done more on their second goal ? I didn't think so live but on the replays I'm starting to wonder
Yeah, I thought so on the replays. If that was Muralha, everyone would lose it. Not surprised that we conceded after Jonas came out for Romulo. Add another one to Guigs list of favorite bums. I actually liked Jonas tonight because he added a physical presence in the midfield, even though he was a little careless at times when he had the ball.
What did you think of Everton ribeiro ? Not only tonight but in general. I'd think about dropping him if I were carp, might be risky tho.
He's been whack to be honest. That's why I don't bother bringing guys back from the Middle East for big money.
An unimpressive week for the Brazilians. Grêmio, Corinthians, and Flamengo draw, but only the 3rd of these really has to worry now. Grêmio dominated Defensor Sporting and Corinthians comes away with 1 point after a 0-0 away draw. Santos defeated by Real Garcilaso, now under pressure as they host the always tough Nacional from Uruguay. Palmeiras the only winner and leading its group. Guys, I read Cruzeiro is supposedly Brazil's best team at the moment. But even if this is the case, Cruzeiro had some absences. Given this group has U. de Chile and Vasco, how good are Cruzeiro's chances now?
Yea.. he came on and really turned the game on it's head. Emelec's defense didn't know how to cope with his energy and left foot. I really wished he would stay and develop at Flamengo for another 2-3 years before departing for RM where he'll probably be met with unrealistic expectations.
A good week (mostly) for Brazil's teams in this Libertadores. Vasco alone lost, but Flamengo with a come-from-behind win at Emelec (I'm really glad as Flamengo hasn't done too well in the Libertadores' away matches in a while). Santos with a 3-1 win over a very tough Nacional and with 1 fewer player; and Corinthians defeats Lara 2-0 at home. In the first week of April, we will have an all-Brazil match (Cruzeiro vs. Vasco), Estudiantes hosting Santos, as well as Grêmio hosting Monagas and Palmeiras hosting Alianza Lima.
It's not vintage Emelec but that win by Flamengo changes things. They will get a title this year and not the sul americana.
Brazil is doing well vs. Argentina in this Libertadores. Santos with a global 3-0, 2 wins vs. Estudiantes; Palmeiras 3-1 with 1 draw (last second goal allowed due to the defense not paying attention at the very end) and a solid at Boca Juniors (Palmeiras was superior from start to finish), and Corinthians with a 1-0 at Independiente. Let's not mention Cruzeiro or Vasco. Right now, I consider Grêmio and Palmeiras to be Brazil's strongest contenders. Santos has a young team with talented, promising newcomers - I think they may gel and be a force to be reckoned with in the Campeonato Brasileiro and elsewhere, but they're a bit below those two. @AcesHigh @celito your thoughts?
Palmeiras still doesn't really convince me. We have a deep roster, but the "starting" team is still not consistent enough. I don't trust Felipe Melo and Dudu's temperaments. At some point they just do some stupid shit. I still see too much "afobamento" with the ball. With the deep roster we may be better equipped to win the Brasileirao. I'd like to get the Scarpa deal resolved. I think he can help quite a bit. Having said that, I have no idea how strong the competitions is. I think Corinthians will also be favorites. They are still better organized tactically. If Gremio play like last year they will have a shot too obviously.
Then it's probably a good thing for your team that the Libertadores now ends in November. That will give your team's starting lineup plenty of time to gel. It's certainly deep; with time, and with good coaching, it can become just as tactically solid as you claim Corinthians is. As for Grêmio, based on what I've seen of them, not since my own SPFC in 2006 (well, I am biased), who reached the final, did I think a Brazilian team had a really solid chance to repeat. Santos in 2012 came close to returning to the final, but Corinthians got in the way.
Mais um mundial porra !!! @V_Park Palmeiras Campeão Mundial U17 Palmeiras 4 x 2 Real Madrid - U17 world club tournament final Preview of December
Bad ending to the Santos x Independiente game. Game called off before the end because the crowd got out of control.