São Paulo 2 x 2 Botafogo - FT Don't like how we started our game against Fluminense. Feels like trying to save energy and do the minimum with the calendar in mind.
Flamengo eked out another 2x1 win against one of the promoted teams. We were up 1x0 at the half and I thought I would focus on work and watch the highlights later. Turns out we gave up a second half draw and had to get an 89th minute goal from Carlinhos to win. At least it's 3 points though. With Botafogo's draw, it puts us within one match of the lead, with 1 game in hand. Palmeiras still 0x0 at the half. This is the halfway point of the tournament, which makes Botafogo the winner of the primeiro turno again! (Pending Flamengo x Inter I guess?) Cruzeiro are looking really good. Up to 5th today, with one fewer match played than the two teams behind them, so a little bit of a cushion there.
Door open for a big weekend for Flamengo tomorrow. Both Palmeiras and Botafogo losing at home today and, worse yet, Estêvão injured again ahead of this brutal schedule for Palmeiras on all three fronts in the coming weeks.
Yeah, doesn't matter if it's another tight 2x1 against one of the bottom teams, Flamengo just need the 3 points to take advantage of this weekend's results. Wednesday is when the insane stretch begins for everyone, Copa Do Brasil, Brasileirao, Copa do Brasil, Brasileirao, Libertadores, Brasileirao, Libertadores in just over 3 weeks. I highlighted Cruzeiro last week, but didn't see them beating Botafogo 3x0 away! Seabra doing some great work. Maybe a coach for a future national team cycle. And just, maybe, the solid administration of Cruzeiro allows coaches like him to grow. Probably wishful thinking on my part.
Yeah, and specifically for Palmeiras, the bolded read as: [@ Flamengo], [@ Inter], [Flamengo], [@ Flamengo], [@ Botafogo], [São Paulo], [Botafogo] Not to downplay that Flamengo and Botafogo also have to maneuver this stretch, and that they have their own difficult games in this mix, but that's absolutely insane, there's nowhere for O Verdão to catch their breath there.
I am glad I ended up missing last nights match. I knew rotation would be in play, but wasn't expecting that score. Even worse, Estevão getting injured again.
Flamengo 2x0 Atl-GO. So Flamengo did suffer a bit in the second half, but they managed to avoid conceding this time and score a second to move to the top of the table, tied with Botafogo, but with a better GD, and with one less match played. Palmeiras in third, but with one more match played than Cruzeiro and Fortaleza who can theoretically catch up. We're just past the half-way point, but due to CBF scheduling, and the floods adding scheduling problems, there are several times on fewer matches here and there. On the other end of the table, Fluminense won again, and once again did not concede a goal. 1x0 at Bragantino. They still only have 17 points, but the last three matches account for more than half of that total!
Great round for Botafogo with their win. Flamengo lose to São Paulo and Palmeiras only got a point away at Inter with another horrible performance. Cruzeiro and Fortaleza now can easily hop Palmeiras on the table with 2 games in hand. Although they play each other tomorrow. Fluminense with another win almost digging themselves out of the Z4. Abel looks completely lost. The team has no shape at all. Today he tried a 3-5-2. Nothing really worked and Inter could have easily scored 2 or 3. At the end Rocha and Rony came in combining for a late goal. Lazaro had a chance to pass to a wide open Felipe Anderson at the end for a good scoring chance for a goal ahead goal but chose stupidly to shoot from outside the box onto a defender. Stupid decisions that infuriates me as a fan.
Flamengo went in with a mixed line-up yesterday, clearly prioritizing the midweek Copa do Brasil and the upcoming direct confrontations with Palmeiras and Botafogo. Sao Paulo were the better team throughout, but Flamengo did have good moments in the beginning of the second half when Gerson came on and later when De Arrascaeta came on. Now we have Palmeiras (away), Palmeiras (home), Bolivar (home), Botafogo (away), Bolivar (away) in the next five matches. Let's see how Tite navigates that. I think even though they are direct battles for the Brasileirao, he will continue to put out mixed line-ups for the league matches. The other big winner this weekend was Fluminense. Another win, another clean sheet. Besides Thiago Silva and Mano Menezes obviously having an immediate impact, the other figure who is shining is their young forward, Kauã Elias, who has scored 4 goals in five matches. They are still in the relegation zone, but with one game in hand over Vitoria, they would be out if they just win that one make up game.
Eight points separates 8th from 18th place right now, and both Fluminense and Grêmio have finally found some form, not long before their Libertadores clash in 10 days time or so. O Dragão starting to look like surefire goners, they're losing touch with the relegation teams above them and have by far the worst goal difference in the league. No surprise given they were the 4th place promotion team from last year's Serie B but they've generally looked overmatched.
Big weekend at the top. Botafogo lost at Juventude. All Rio teams lost there this season. Fortaleza beat Criciuma yesterday and moved into 2nd place. That set up the big Flamengo x Palmeiras match today. It ended 1x1, which keeps Palmeiras in 4th and Flamengo in 3rd behind Fortaleza. Fortaleza and Flamengo have one fewer match played. Next weekend is Botafogo x Flamengo and Palmeiras x São Paulo. This could open the way for Fortaleza to reach the top spot, but they are away to Bragantino. Of course, all teams have Libertadores or Sulamericana matches midweek as well, so no one gets any rest. At the other end, Vasco ended Fluminense's streak. But Fluminense have fewer matches played than Corinthians and Vitoria above them so they still have the potential to leapfrog them and leave the relegation zone as long as they stay within reach.
The other big news for Flamengo this week was injuries. Vina left the Palmeiras match injured and Everton Cebolinha was already out. Looks like both of them will require surgery and be out for the season. There hasn't been much transfer news for Flamengo in a while now, since some of the earlier attempts died down, but the window is still open and it looks like they are trying to bring in some players to shore up the full-back positions (in addition to Vina's injury, Wesley is leaving to Atalanta) and midfield.
Fortaleza move into 1st place with an away win over Bragantino today. Botafogo x Flamengo tomorrow is the other key match at the top of the table. A Botafogo win puts them back on top (but with one more match played). A Flamengo win puts them in second, with the same number of matches as Fortaleza and Botafogo would fall to third. Palmeiras plays Sao Paulo and whoever wins can move to third if Flamengo loses, or fourth if Botafogo loses.
Palmeiras 2 x 1 São Paulo - FT Final minute winning header from Flaco. This team is really stressing me out. Every game is like pulling teeth. São Paulo saved many starters for the Libertadores match but still had the best scoring chances in the 1st half. Estevão the only player who can provide something different. Veiga missed 2 sitters in the 2nd half. Good news is no injuries. São Paulo might have lost Ferreirinha and Patrick (who fell on his head and had to go off in an ambulance). Patrick was unconscious at first but regained consciousness before he left the field. Flamengo playing Botafogo right now and it's 1 x 1. But Flamengo lost Arrasca to injury early in the game.
Botafogo 4 x 1 Flamengo - FT Flamengo felling the multiple missing players due to injuries ... but still a statement game from Botafogo. Missed a PK 2 x 1 and then 3 very clear scoring chances. Botafogo are a scary team when in transition. Strength, speed, and good technical skills.
There was some brief hope, with the score tied at 1, but the second half in particular was all Botafogo. They'll have an amazing week if they can hold on to their Libertadores advantage, so I hope they don't! Of course, that would just make them stronger favorites to win the Brasileirao if they end up with those extra days for rest and training. One match left in the round and it could also have big implications. Cruzeiro go to Vitoria tomorrow and if they win, they could leapfrog Bahia and Sao Paulo and be in 5th place behind Flamengo and Palmeiras.
Palmeiras 5 x 0 Cuiabá - FT Didn't really have to play that well ... the first two goals found us. But a good bounce nonetheless. Now hoping the other title contenders start dropping points.
Still a few matches left in the round, but two huge ones just finished: Bahia 0x0 Botafogo Fortaleza 1x0 Corinthians Fortaleza are now at the top of the table AND they still have one fewer match than Botafogo. Both of them have no Copa do Brasil match this week and will face each other, in Rio, on Saturday. Another big result was Fluminense's win yesterday at Atletico-MG. Fluminense are now out of the relegation zone (and Thiago Silva remains unbeaten since returning to Brazil).
Flamengo won at Bragantino, to join Palmeiras in 3rd place. Palmeiras has the better goal difference. Sao Paulo also won today and are just 3 points behind those. Fortaleza (48 points from 23 matches) Botafogo (47 points from 24 matches) Palmeiras (44 from 24) Flamengo (44 from 23) Copa do Brasil matches this week means only Flamengo will be busy, among the top 4. On the weekend there's the match between the top 2 and Palmeiras goes to Athletico-PR while Flamengo goes to Corinthians. Then a break for World Cup qualifying.
Vasco are now 8th . Some teams right below have a game or more in hand, but still, pretty impressive comeback after the chaos of 777. And Coutinho hasn't really played much so he hasn't been a factor.
Big win for Botafogo, they beat Fortaleza 2x0 and move back into first place. Fortaleza though, are still capable of passing them with their game in hand. Also, not a disaster for Palmeiras and Flamengo. A Fortaleza win would have been the worst result for chasing teams.
Corinthians 2x1 Flamengo earlier today. Couldn't watch it. I think Fanatiz only has some games because of the two league groups that have separate rights. Not 100% sure though. At any rate, the ball wasn't in play for much of the game and near the end, with Corinthians up, they were happy to disrupt it even more. With Palmeiras' win over Athletico-PR today (2x0), Palmeiras are alone in 3rd, 3 points behind Botafogo in 1st. Flamengo can catch up with their eventual game in hand, but can no longer catch up to Botafogo unless they slip. Tomorrow the international break starts. The next match day is for Copa do Brasil, but some make-up Brasileirao matches will be played too. Fortaleza's game in hand will be played immediately after the break, against Internacional. If they win, they will be in first, by one point, and in control of their destiny with 13 matches remaining. Flamengo's game in hand has not been rescheduled yet, I think. Also, Fluminense continue to dig themselves out of their hole, with a 2x0 win today over São Paulo.