Palmeiras close to the title, Galo overwhelms Flamengo, and Botafogo continues the saga of disappointments

If they manage to win against Fluminense in the penultimate round, Verdão could get their hands on the cup; Atlético-MG shines again

There are three players to study after the end of this Brazilian championship: Endrick, Paulinho and Tiquinho Soares. How about we start with Endrick? Palmeiras’ golden boy cried tears of tears throughout the year. The 17-year-old boy seemed unable to handle the pressure. Another real-life-shattering revelation. To protect him and also to make the team more competitive, Abel Ferreira decided to put the teenager on an almost eternal bench. In fact, Endrick almost made it to the under-20s. The football gods wouldn’t let him. He became the factor that unbalanced Palmeiras. Grow. He turned heads as if he were in Paulo Vanzolini’s samba, another lyrical PV.

The maturity finally appeared in that match against Botafogo at the Nilton Santos Stadium. Verdão lost 3-0 in the first half. In the second half Endrick scored two wonderful goals, putting Palmeiras back in the game and then we already know what happened. Sensational comeback for the Rio Bianconeri. Eventually he was called up by Fernando Diniz for the Brazilian team. Endrick was wrongly considered the revelation of last year’s Brazilian championship. An award that would be fair now, but considering him the best of the Brasileirão today is not a fantasy. Endrick, who scored another goal, this time, against the poor relegated América-MG, is a sweet reality.

Paulinho has an impressive career at Atlético-MG. He starts very well, scores goals in every way possible and performs well in the Libertadores group stage.

Felipão starts badly, but turns the situation around

At a certain point Luiz Felipe Scolari arrived. Some turned up their noses. He had another role at Atletico-PR, Paulo Turra was the coach of Furacão, and he seemed to have no desire to go back to being a coach. However, it is Felipão, the commander of the Brazilian penta. Unfortunately marked by the tragedy of 8 July 2014 at the Mineirão: ‘Germany 7 to 1’. In fact, Scolari was a two-time Libertadores champion, with one title for Grêmio and another for Palmeiras. Last year he placed second in that competition. When he got to Galo he couldn’t win. I could not. Hulk and Paulinho played apart and didn’t score with the same frequency.

Paulinho Arena

The Arena do Galo is opened and, from that moment on, Paulinho becomes a super scorer and player. Paulinho and Hulk met again on the pitch. The tables were exceptional. The stadium has now become the Paulinho Arena. Atlético’s number 10 has become the killer of the Brasileirão. Leads the artillery, with 18 goals. The striker, who also speaks well and fights against two abominable factors, the oppression of the poor and racism, as Reinaldo did in the 70s and 80s, has become the flagship of the team. Always assisted by the inspired Hulk, representative of the North East fighter, Paulinho smashed and destroyed defenses in revolutionary fashion. I quote the composer Paolo Vanzolini again: ‘Get up, shake off the dust and turn around’. The latest victim was Tite’s Flamengo in the middle of the Maracanã. The Rooster is thirsty. Palmeiras will have a competitor.

And Tiquinho?

Tiquinho Soares was named best player of the (first) round, with Botafogo breaking records, such as the 47 points which gave them the overall lead, however, Estrela Solitária’s number 9 injured his knee against Cruzeiro . He stayed away for a while. Diego Costa, former monster of Atlético de Madrid and the Spanish national team, replaced him competently. Tiquinho is back and hasn’t had great performances in the first three games. The “charismless” Bruno Lage blocked Francisco Soares and left Diego in the starting lineup. It was the match against Goiás at Nilton Santos. Tiquinho entered the second phase with Fogão disfigured, while Eduardo was positioned as a second midfielder, without errors in that role, two wingers and two internal attackers, as they called the striker and the center forward in the early days of football.

At 6′ of the second half Tiquinho scores. The shot was almost angled. He hit the beam and went in. Then, they discovered that the ball had been deflected by defender Lucas Halter. It did not matter. Tiquinho was once again decisive. Francisco Soares, known as Tiquinho, even scored a beautiful goal against Fluminense, who had recently won the Libertadores, but the fountain dried up. Tiquinho and Eduardo started to behave badly. Botafogo couldn’t even beat a team made up of shadows. Indeed, the present and future were dark.

In the match against Coritiba, in round 36, Tiquinho did not waste a penalty in the 50th minute of the second phase. Shirt 9 hadn’t scored for a month! However, 30 seconds later, Coritiba equalized and the match ended. The phrase “There are things that only happen in Botafogo” has never been more appropriate.

The holder of the best season in the history of the first round of the Brasileirão of consecutive points continued the saga of impressive negative results. With 13 points ahead of second place, Botafogo, at this critical moment, are three points behind recent leader, Verdão.

Green is the new black. Translation: green is the color of fashion. Why? Because Palmeiras took the lead from Botafogo. Tiquinho, Eduardo, sent off against Coritiba in the 36th round of the Brasileirão, Adryelson & Co. had no emotional intelligence. I try to understand Tiquinho, who is experiencing a personal drama, but the other athletes of the Glorioso (Glorioso?) fail a lot. That Adryelson turned his back on the number 9’s penalty in injury time is a disgrace. It’s a shame that he remained on the pitch because Bota’s number 34 only witnessed the play that led to the Paraná team’s equaliser. Botafogo recognized the fall, but was discouraged and continued with his head down, without raising his head in decisive moments.

What happens in Botafogo is surreal. It’s a team of popcorn makers. I lighten the burden of Tiquinho Soares a little, but the others deserve the fame. They turned really yellow.

Palmeiras, on the other hand, demonstrates the determination of a champion. Endrick shines. The Rooster of the Hulk-Paulinho couple flies low. Felipão commands an excellent cast almost perfectly. Scolari seemed lost at first. That’s exactly what he looked like. Atlético-MG’s title wouldn’t surprise me. However, Palmeiras has some favoritism.

Sensational Brasileirão

With Cruzeiro’s victory over Goiás in the last match of the 35th round, Bahia, Vasco and Santos find themselves under pressure with the noose tightened around their necks. Serie B seems to be right there for these people, and the specter of relegation looms at the feet of this noisy group. Bahia put on a show by beating Corinthians, with a crazy and unlikely 5-1, in Itaquera. Noteworthy. However, in the 36th round, at home, they lost to San Paolo. Vasco was defeated by Corinthians, 4-2, in São Januário. So this columnist must burn half his tongue. Picking corn on the laptop keyboard in front of the computer, I wrote that Vasco and Bahia will not fall. I’m terrible at predicting the future. I think I was wrong, because one of them has to “qualify” for the 2024 Second Championship.

Santos, in Vila Belmiro, was hit by the dynastic Fluminense. In the first phase, Tricolor crushed Peixe. It ends 2 to 0. Martinelli and Arias score beautiful goals. In the final it was Santos who did better, but goalkeeper Fabio and the post did not help the Juventus attackers on the beach. Rodrigue’s character, Gravatinha, traveled with Tricolor and didn’t let the ball in. The flu equalized the stock. With the level of football rising at the right time, Martinelli makes a beautiful pass and Cano extends it for the Machine: 3 to 0. Yes. The Machine. Nickname valid for the reigning Libertadores champion and, at the same time, for the top scorer of the main South American competition this season, with 13 goals in 12 games. Cano scored goal number 40 this season. In 2022, Germán has scored 44 goals in 70 games. So far in 2023, that’s 40 in 58 games. The average is higher. An amazing striker who works and manages to achieve beyond what he imagines. He is a football hero.

Big hugs.

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.