Palmeiras is about to launch the defense of the Brazilian title. Flamengo and Atletico Mineiro on the hunt
April 14 - Palmeiras kick off the 2023 Brazilian league season on Saturday against Cuiaba. Alongside giants Rio Flamengo and Belo Horizonte giants Atletico Mineiro, they will be favorites to win Serie A.
Under Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira, Palmeiras are a well-trained unit. He develops players and organizes his team to become ruthlessly efficient. The defending champions are not fun to watch but will be the team to beat.
Flamengo should be their main challenger. It is the richest club in Brazil and South America with a fan base of 40 million, but the Rio side endured a tough few months and sacked Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira after a string of disappointing results. .
They failed to win the Brazilian and South American Super Cups, as well as the Taça Guanabara and the Rio State Championship. In Morocco in February, Flamengo left the Club World Cup at the first hurdle, losing to Saudis Al Hilal. The Brazilians envisioned a dream final with Real Madrid, but instead came away humbled.
The management intend to bring back Jorge Jesus, the 2019 Messiah, but that's part of the club's problem. They continue to live in the shadow of a camp that has conquered everything.
With Flamengo unstable, Atletico Mineiro could step in. Last season they dropped out of the top three, but with Argentine coach Eduardo Coudet they hope to do better this season. The club will also inaugurate its new stadium.
Flamengo's rivals Fluminense could be outside challenges for the top prize. In Fernando Diniz they have one of the most interesting and exciting coaches in Brazil. He always wants to attack, which makes the defense vulnerable, but it will have been strengthened by winning the Rio State Championship last weekend.
At the other end of the table, Bahia, Cuiaba, Curitiba and Goias should be in trouble. Promoted teams Cruzeiro, Gremio and Vasco da Gama should have enough to survive.
But the Brazilian championship remains very unpredictable. While the days are over when a dozen clubs thought they could win the league, the crowded schedule, huge distances to cover and differing club priorities ensure there should be enough drama until the very last day of the season on December 3.
Furthermore, the Brazilian league has perhaps never been so powerful: clubs are better monetizing their fanbases, new funds are pouring in through gaming industry sponsorship, and new club structures allow invest more capital.
Clubs are also preparing to separate the league from the national federation, but this will still take some time with ongoing discussions with two groups backed by different investment funds and disputes between clubs over the distribution of funds from broadcast.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1681506358labto1681506358ofdlr1681506358owedi1681506358sni@i1681506358tnuk.1681506358ardni1681506358mas1681506358
April 14 - Palmeiras kick off the 2023 Brazilian league season on Saturday against Cuiaba. Alongside giants Rio Flamengo and Belo Horizonte giants Atletico Mineiro, they will be favorites to win Serie A.
Under Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira, Palmeiras are a well-trained unit. He develops players and organizes his team to become ruthlessly efficient. The defending champions are not fun to watch but will be the team to beat.
Flamengo should be their main challenger. It is the richest club in Brazil and South America with a fan base of 40 million, but the Rio side endured a tough few months and sacked Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira after a string of disappointing results. .
They failed to win the Brazilian and South American Super Cups, as well as the Taça Guanabara and the Rio State Championship. In Morocco in February, Flamengo left the Club World Cup at the first hurdle, losing to Saudis Al Hilal. The Brazilians envisioned a dream final with Real Madrid, but instead came away humbled.
The management intend to bring back Jorge Jesus, the 2019 Messiah, but that's part of the club's problem. They continue to live in the shadow of a camp that has conquered everything.
With Flamengo unstable, Atletico Mineiro could step in. Last season they dropped out of the top three, but with Argentine coach Eduardo Coudet they hope to do better this season. The club will also inaugurate its new stadium.
Flamengo's rivals Fluminense could be outside challenges for the top prize. In Fernando Diniz they have one of the most interesting and exciting coaches in Brazil. He always wants to attack, which makes the defense vulnerable, but it will have been strengthened by winning the Rio State Championship last weekend.
At the other end of the table, Bahia, Cuiaba, Curitiba and Goias should be in trouble. Promoted teams Cruzeiro, Gremio and Vasco da Gama should have enough to survive.
But the Brazilian championship remains very unpredictable. While the days are over when a dozen clubs thought they could win the league, the crowded schedule, huge distances to cover and differing club priorities ensure there should be enough drama until the very last day of the season on December 3.
Furthermore, the Brazilian league has perhaps never been so powerful: clubs are better monetizing their fanbases, new funds are pouring in through gaming industry sponsorship, and new club structures allow invest more capital.
Clubs are also preparing to separate the league from the national federation, but this will still take some time with ongoing discussions with two groups backed by different investment funds and disputes between clubs over the distribution of funds from broadcast.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1681506358labto1681506358ofdlr1681506358owedi1681506358sni@i1681506358tnuk.1681506358ardni1681506358mas1681506358
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