Botafogo saw the difference in leadership in the Brazilian Championship drop from six to four points in this 33rd round. If last Friday (8) Palmeiras beat Grêmio 1-0 at Allianz Parque, in São Paulo, this Saturday Glorioso was held to a goalless draw with Cuiabá at the Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, in duel broadcast live on National Radio.
Alvinegro had 68 points, against 64 for Palmeiras. The teams will still face each other in this final stretch of the Brasileirão, on the 26th, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), led by the São Paulo team. Cuiabá remains in a delicate situation. Dourado reached 29 points, in 19th and penultimate place and remains in the relegation zone (Z4) for at least another two rounds.
The Rio team finished 28 times, 17 of which in the second half alone, and had 74% possession of the ball, but were unable to clear the goal defended by Walter, who made a good intervention in the 39th minute of the first half with a shot from midfielder Thiago Almada da entrance to the area. At 51, midfielder Marlon Freitas stopped at the post. In the final stage, in the 37th minute, defender Marllon prevented striker Júnior Santos’ goal, saving Cuiabá on the line.
Fortress in the fray
In addition to Palmeiras, those who benefited from Botafogo’s stumble were Fortaleza, who also went to the field this Saturday and beat Vasco 3-0 at Arena Castelão. Leão do Pici has 63 points, five less than Glorioso, still dreaming of an unprecedented Brazilian title. Cruzmaltino, parked at 43 points, remains in ninth place.
The tricolor victory began to be built 12 minutes into the first half. After a great play on the right, with a hat thrown at Lucas Piton, fellow full-back Tinga crossed for midfielder Emmanuel Martínez’s header. In the final stage, at 33, striker Breno Lopes counterattacked from the left and hit a cross, with no chance for Léo Jardim. In stoppage time, center forward Renato Kayzer, formerly of Vasco, defined the score.
Corinthian dream
The new addition to the top half of the table is Corinthians, who took tenth place this Saturday, after defeating Vitória 2-1 at Barradão, in Salvador. With 41 points, Timão opened the gap to Z4 and is starting to dream of possible spare places in the Libertadores via Brasileiro, depending on the results of the finals of the South American and Brazilian Cups. Leão, whose streak of three consecutive victories was interrupted, stopped at 38 points, still threatened by relegation.
The Bahians took the lead with Alerrandro after just eight minutes, taking advantage of goalkeeper Hugo Souza’s error in passing the ball. At 23, Yuri Alberto received the ball from midfielder Rodrigo Garro inside the area and hit hard, leaving everything the same. In the final stage, in the 24th minute, fellow striker Memphis Depay took advantage of a beautiful pass from Garro and touched goalkeeper Lucas Arcanjo, defining Corinthians’ triumph.
Youth breathes
Bahia suffered the same fate as its biggest rival and also left the field defeated this Saturday. Esquadrão de Aço suffered an upset against Juventude, who won 2-1 at the Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, in Caxias do Sul (RS). The Bahians made it 1-0 in the opening minute of the match, with midfielder Cauly, but suffered a comeback in the final stage, thanks to attackers Lucas Barbosa, for cover, and Gabriel Taliari, with a hat over goalkeeper Marcos Felipe.
Tricolor hasn’t won in five games and suffered the third consecutive defeat in this sequence. The team led by Rogério Ceni has 46 points, in eighth place. The Gauchos, in turn, reached 37 points, on the edge of the relegation zone.
Cruise disenchant
In another match this Saturday, Cruzeiro took advantage of Bahia’s new stumble to take seventh place, defeating Criciúma 2-1 at Mineirão. Raposa reached 47 points, while Tigre continues with 37 points, still outside the Z4, ahead of Juventude in the classification due to having a better goal difference.
The celestial team, which hadn’t won in seven rounds, achieved its first triumph under Fernando Diniz’s command at the Brazilian Championship with goals from strikers Kaio Jorge and Gabriel Veron. Midfielder Allano scored for the Santa Catarina team.
Good for no one
The goalless draw between Botafogo and Cuiabá was not the only one on Saturday. At the Antônio Accioly Stadium, in Goiânia, Atlético-GO and Red Bull Bragantino also did not come from scratch. The draw was terrible for both teams, who are fighting against relegation. The Dragon remains at the bottom, with 26 points. Massa Bruta, with 36 points, returned to Z4 because of Juventude’s victory.
Triumph of the Tricolor
Playing at home, São Paulo beat Athletico-PR 2-1 and remains firmly in the fight to enter the G4. With the triumph, Tricolor remains in sixth place in the standings, but now with 58 points. Furacão remains 18th, with 34 points.
