Teams need to score today to try to stay in Serie A next year
The last two rounds of the 2021 Brazilian Championship promise to catch fire at the bottom of the table. With Chapecoense and Sport already relegated, six teams are still fighting to escape the decay of competing in Serie B in 2022: Athletico-PR, São Paulo, Bahia, Juventude, Cuiabá and Grêmio.
Separated by two points in the bottom half of the table, São Paulo and Juventude face each other soon, at 7pm, at Morumbi, for the 37th round of the Brazilian Championship.
With 45 points and in fourteenth place, a draw is enough for São Paulo to mathematically free themselves from the danger of the first relegation in the club’s history. Coach Rogério Ceni should give Marquinhos or Vitor Bueno a chance once again in midfield after the test with Benítez as the starter, in the last round did not work. Rigoni and Calleri, despite the low productivity of the tricolor attack, should be kept in the team. Luciano returned to training with the squad this Sunday, but his presence is uncertain. Galeano, Luan, Pablo and William (injured) follow out.
Juventude come to the duel with the objective of concluding their stay in Serie A. For that, they need at least one point to distance themselves from Z-4 and depend only on it in the last round. With 43 points and in 16th place, the team is the first team outside the relegation zone.
For the game against São Paulo, Juventude has no shortages. Thus, Jair Ventura should bet on maintaining the starting 11, who played in the last three rounds. In goal, even with the failure against Fortaleza, the experienced Douglas will have another opportunity.
A little later, at 20h, Cuiabá and Fortaleza face off at Arena Pantanal. Cuiabá has gone three rounds without a win – with two consecutive losses to Palmeiras and Athletico, in addition to a draw with Bahia.
In the struggle to stay in Serie A – the club’s main objective after the unprecedented access achieved last year – Cuiabá will have the absence of Clayson and João Lucas, who are serving suspension, as well as Auremir, undergoing treatment for a sprained knee. Coach Jorginho counts on the return of Alan Empereur, after serving suspension. The defender takes the title in place of Marllon. In 17th place, Dourado opens the sticking zone with the same 43 points as Juventude, but with a victory less.
On the other hand, Fortaleza is experiencing one of the best moments in the club’s history. The team got an unprecedented spot for next year’s Copa Libertadores, after the victory over Juventude.
In fifth place and with 55 points, Fortaleza should not have Lucas Crispim, who continued in the capital doing strengthening work. The player started as a starter against Juventude and had to be replaced at the beginning of the second half. Bruno Melo must take over the vacancy. Marcelo Benevenuto returns after being suspended and will start in the defense alongside Titi and Tinga.
