Brasileirao 2023, Brazil’s top league kicks off with a day spread over three days: news and predictions.
Brazil’s Brasileirao doesn’t stop, ready to resume immediately after an intense midweek round that has reserved quite a few surprises.
In the 12th day of Brazil’s top league, spread over three days, the spotlight is entirely on São Paulo’s Allianz Parque, where the summit clash between leaders Botafogo and second-placed Palmeiras takes place on the evening of Sunday 25. The pressure will undoubtedly be on the shoulders of Verdao, who saw their long unbeaten run come to an end in the tricky away match in Bahia this week. Against all odds, Abel Ferreira’s men were beaten 1-0 by the Salvador club, losing ground to Botafogo, who immediately took advantage. Rio de Janeiro’s Botafogo, in fact, winning with the same result (0-1) at home to Cuiabá, stretched their lead over Palmeiras, flying to +5. Losing the direct clash would inevitably complicate the comeback operation. But with the help of their public, in front of whom they have never lost in five matches, the green-and-whites should at least avoid defeat against a Botafogo that has appeared more vulnerable away from home.
Third in the standings, Gremio awaits good news from Sao Paulo. Luis Suarez’s side are fresh from a convincing 3-1 win over America Mineiro and should have no problem imposing themselves on disastrous Coritiba, who lie desolately in last place with just four points.
Brasileirao 2023: Corinthians, will it be a real breakthrough?
On Saturday, Athletico Paranaense, the league’s fifth-strongest side, host Corinthians, who have been struggling since the start of the tournament but are still coming off a more than healthy victory in the Paulista derby with Santos.
Vitor Roque of Athletico Paranaense
Is this an isolated case or has the Timao really turned the corner? We do not trust, in any case, a team that before last midweek had not scored a single point on the road, losing five games out of five. Athletico, moreover, has only lost one match in front of its own public, beating even the leading Botafogo. On Saturday, Bahia, who have just ended Palmeiras’ unbeaten streak, also take the field: it will not be easy to achieve another feat against Fluminense, who have never lost at home and who have the opportunity to climb the standings. Newly-promoted Cruzeiro, who have not won in their last four home games, have been missing the three points for more than a month now, scoring in droves, and the match against São Paulo, another team that struggles away from home, does not look to be a spectacular one. Instead, there should be no shortage of goals in America Mineiro-Internacional, RB Bragantino-Goiás and Santos-Flamengo.
Possible winners
- Athletico Paranaense (in Athletico Paranaense-Corinthians, Saturday 24 at 21:00)
- Fluminense (in Fluminense-Bahia, Saturday 24 23:30)
- Sao Paulo or draw (in Cruzeiro-Sao Paulo, Sunday 25 2:00)
- Gremio (in Gremio-Coritiba, Sunday 25 at 21:00)
- Palmeiras or draw (in Palmeiras-Botafogo, Sunday 25th at 21:00)