Brasileirão - Round 32
The Brazilian league, better known as Brasileirão, reaches its final stretch with much excitement. With only 7 rounds left in the championship, the fight for the title, spots for the Libertadores, and against relegation continues with great excitement.
Leading the championship, Botafogo has built a significant advantage over the second-placed team since the early rounds. The lead had been as much as 13 points at the turn of the first and second turns, but recent stumbles have narrowed it to 3 points against Palmeiras.
Known as the most fiercely contested championship in the world, this year's Brasileirão lives up to its fame. The leader's advantage over the ninth-placed team is 10 points, making the league's final stretch exciting.
A game-by-game analysis of the 32nd round of the Brasileirão will follow, analyzing the favoritism of each in the matches to assist bettors around the world seeking tips on the Brazilian championship in their bets.
Grêmio vs. Bahia
The Grêmio team arrives motivated for the confrontation after 3 victories in the last 3 games. Still with remote chances of the title, the team led by Renato Gaúcho is seeking a spot in the Copa Libertadores and will rely on the support of their fans to consolidate their position in the Top-4 of the championship.
On the other hand, the Bahia team comes into the match fighting against relegation to the second division and needs to accumulate points to move away from the bottom of the table. With only a 3-point advantage over the 17th-placed team, in case of defeat, they could enter the relegation zone at the end of this round.
Favoritism: Grêmio (70%) vs. (30%) Bahia
América-MG vs. Atlético-MG
Two of the three teams from the state of Minas Gerais face off in a derby in Belo Horizonte. In contrasting positions in the table, the two teams clash in this round in the state capital.
Atlético-MG entered the championship as one of the favorites but was very inconsistent during the competition, with coach Felipão (world champion with the Brazilian national team in 2002) receiving much criticism for his work. However, in the last 3 rounds, they achieved 3 victories and come motivated to face their rival.
On the other hand, América-MG has the worst campaign in the competition, being the last-placed team in the table. In this round, they could mathematically be relegated to the second division. The positive point is that the Coelho, as they are usually called, has been considered the best-performing bottom team in recent championships. Despite the low score, the team has played well even against teams at the top of the table.
Favoritism: América-MG (15%) vs. (85%) Atlético-MG
Palmeiras vs. Athletico-PR
In a clash at the top of the table, two contenders for spots in the Copa Libertadores face each other in the city of São Paulo. Palmeiras had an irregular campaign, below expectations at the beginning of the competition, but after protests from the fans, the team won the last 4 games, benefiting from 3 stumbles by Botafogo and is now seen as a contender for the title.
Meanwhile, Athletico-PR comes from an away defeat against Corinthians and saw the gap to the top 4 increase. However, they remain one of the contenders for a spot in the next continental competition, as the 5th and 6th-placed teams qualify for the Copa Libertadores playoffs.
Favoritism: Palmeiras (75%) vs. (25%) Athletico-PR
Red Bull Bragantino vs. Corinthians
The São Paulo derby of the round takes place at the modest Nabi Abi Chedid stadium in Bragança Paulista. The RB Bragantino team, one of the newest teams in Brazilian football, has been performing well above expectations. Early on in their first appearances in the top division, they are seen as contenders to win the title.
Meanwhile, Corinthians has had a very irregular championship and in the last few rounds, they fought to avoid being among the last 4 teams, playing a very poor game in terms of technical and tactical resources. However, after the victory in the last round, they managed to secure a 6-point advantage over the 17th-placed team.
Favoritism: Red Bull Bragantino (70%) vs. (30%) Corinthians
Cruzeiro vs. Internacional
Very close in the standings, the two traditional Brazilian teams take to the field worrying their fans. Cruzeiro starts the round just one position above the relegation zone and could enter the bottom four this round if they lose. Former player Ronaldo owns the team and managed to secure promotion last season after 3 years in the national second division, but has faced constant protests from the fans in recent rounds.
Meanwhile, the Internacional team takes the field still feeling the defeat against Fluminense in the Copa Libertadores semi-final, having suffered a turnaround in the final minutes playing at home. After the elimination, the team secured two victories, one of them a 7-1 win against Santos, but the two stumbles in the last rounds put the Colorado at risk of remaining in the top division.
Favoritism: Cruzeiro (50%) vs. (50%) Internacional
Fortaleza vs. Flamengo
In another balanced clash of the round, Fortaleza and Flamengo face each other in the state of Ceará. Separated by 8 points in the championship, both teams are going through rough patches in the season. The Fortaleza team competed in and lost the final of the Copa Sudamericana last weekend. Focused on winning a continental competition for the first time in history, they ended up losing the last 3 matches they played in the league.
On the other hand, Flamengo enters the match under pressure after two defeats in the last two matches. After a disappointing year for the Rubro Negros fans, a direct spot in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores is seen as an obligation within the club, so the team needs to secure the 3 points even when playing away from home.
Favoritism: Fortaleza (40%) vs. (60%) Flamengo
Coritiba vs. Goiás
In the clash of the desperate, Coritiba and Goiás clash in the south of the country, and both urgently need a victory. After a poor campaign in the championship, the Coritiba team is practically relegated and needs a perfect performance in the next seven rounds to avoid relegation.
The Goiás team does not have such a poor performance, but they are five points behind the 16th-placed team and desperately need a win to avoid further complications in their situation in the championship.
Favoritism: Coritiba (45%) vs. (55%) Goiás
Vasco vs. Botafogo
In the Rio de Janeiro derby of the round, Vasco and Botafogo face each other in very different conditions in the table. While the Botafogo team is the leader of the championship, the Cruz-maltino team is in the relegation zone.
Despite the gap in the table, the clash is expected to be very balanced, as are all the Rio de Janeiro derbies in the championship. Botafogo is the leader but has experienced better moments in the competition and comes from three consecutive stumbles. Considered the champions in advance by many in the country, the team of the lone star has seen its opponents close in the table.
On the other hand, the Vasco team had a poor start to the championship, recovered, but still remains very inconsistent in the competition and is seen as one of the candidates for relegation.
Favoritism: Vasco (40%) vs. (60%) Botafogo
Santos vs. Cuiabá
In the closing match of the round, Santos and Cuiabá face off at the Vila Belmiro, Pelé's stadium. The Santos team has never been relegated to the second division of national football, but this has been their worst campaign in history. A strong candidate for relegation, the home team comes from a surprising away victory against the Flamengo team.
Meanwhile, Cuiabá, a modest team from the Brazilian Midwest, has been having a fairly consistent campaign, exceeding expectations, and has everything to remain in the top tier of national football. They rely on their top scorer Deyverson to surprise the home team.
Favoritism: Santos (60%) vs. (40%) Cuiabá
