Two regional derbies rock Brazilian football this Thursday (16). Starting at 21:30 (Brasília time), Corinthians and Palmeiras will star in a Derby in Itaquera that could be fundamental to define who will guarantee the general leadership of the first phase of the Paulista Championship. A little earlier, starting at 8:30 pm, Botafogo and Vasco will face off at Maracanã in a game postponed from the 3rd round of Carioca.
Derby in Itaquera
In completely opposite moments in Paulista, Timão and Verdão face each other. The home team comes from two negative results: a 2-0 defeat by São Bernardo and a goalless draw with Portuguesa.
Intense preparation! Only 2 ️ ⃣ days to go!
? Rodrigo Coca / Ag. Corinthians#Go Corinthians pic.twitter.com/rzwyOUWAeC
— Corinthians (@Corinthians) February 14, 2023
These setbacks created a certain mistrust around the work of the young coach Fernando Lázaro. After the draw with Lusa, the coach made it clear, in a press conference, that he knows the importance of getting a good result in this Thursday’s derby: “We know the dimension of Derby. It is another condition in all these aspects of the game”.
Good news for the coach is the return of the experienced goalkeeper Cássio, who did not face Portuguesa last Sunday because of a virus. Recovered, he should be the starter in the Corinthians goal.
On the other side of the lawn will be a Palmeiras that has already won a title in the season (the Brazilian Super Cup, with a victory over Flamengo) and that comes from a sequence of five consecutive victories in Paulista.
TOMORROW IS THE DAY! ?
And our preparation for the Derby is still intense ➤ https://t.co/22aPA1oMMD#AvantiPalestra pic.twitter.com/t9Z38jEqAa
— SE Palmeiras (@Palmeiras) February 15, 2023
If Fernando Lázaro is still trying to establish himself at the helm of Timão, Abel Ferreira is a reality at Verdão. And this Thursday’s derby could occupy a special place in the coach’s career. With 99 wins at the helm of Palmeiras, the Portuguese could reach his 100th at the helm of the current Brazilian champion precisely at Derby. For this to be possible, the expectation is that the coach sends the best he has to the field.
Classic at Maracanã
In the Carioca Championship, the day will be a classic between Botafogo and Vasco. Deputy leader of the Guanabara Cup of the Carioca Championship with 16 points, Glorioso wants to win to retake the first position of Flamengo, who beat Volta Redonda by 3-1 last Wednesday (15). General Severiano’s team comes from two consecutive victories in the competition.
Ready for the classic! ??? #VamosBOTAFOGO
? Vitor Silva/ BFR pic.twitter.com/3JeStN0UNB
— Botafogo FR (@Botafogo) February 15, 2023
Vasco (which occupies the 6th position with 11 points) aims at the G4 of the competition, which guarantees classification for the semifinal. For this, Cruzmaltino will have to recover from the 2-0 defeat by Fluminense, last Sunday.
? CT Moacyr Barbosa
? Focus on Friendship Classic.
?: Daniel Ramalho | #Vasco da Gama pic.twitter.com/KRZ30f1Y9p
— Vasco da Gama (@VascodaGama) February 14, 2023
