On July 25, Grêmio took on Corinthians in a very important match for the Brazilian league.
The game marked the halfway point in this year’s 2024 edition of the “Brasileirão.”
Ending in a 2-2 draw, the match played at the Neo Química Arena was the perfect curtain closer for what has so far been a very entertaining first half of the league.
As it stands, Botafogo is currently holding the pole position with an impressive 40 points from 19 games—although that may change since the “Glorious” take on Brazil’s “prodigal son” Cruzeiro today at the Nilton Santos.
Cruzeiro is another team that has been performing exceptionally this season. The “Cabuloso” has tallied up 32 points from 18 matches. As a result, the team from Minas Gerais currently sits in fifth position, overcoming all expectations held for the “Fox” before the season started.
However, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows in Minas Gerais.
Cruzeiro’s city rivals, Atlético Mineiro, otherwise known as “Galo,” have not been having as good of a time as their blue counterparts.
With multiple challenges popping up this season, from bad calls from refs to changes in management, and key players like goalkeeper Everson being injured, Galo has been struggling to keep momentum. As a result, they have only been able to secure 25 points from 17 games.
You might’ve noticed the difference in games played by each team—Botafogo had 19, Cruzeiro 18, and Galo only 17. This is due to the flooding that occurred in the south of Brazil earlier this year. The disastrous floods displaced thousands of Brazilians and directly impacted all southern teams from Brazil.
The teams affected by the flooding, Grêmio and Internacional, have been greatly hurt by the natural disaster and both teams haven’t been able to play “home games” at home for months now.
As a result of this, the teams from the south have not been doing so well in the standings.
Grêmio, for example, was expected to be a top 5 contender, but instead is currently battling relegation.
As it stands, Grêmio has played 17 matches and gained only 15 points—putting the Rio Grande do Sul natives in the seventeenth position.
Internacional, Grêmio’s rival, has also not been able to succeed this season. Although the “Colorado” have not been doing as badly as Grêmio, gaining 19 points so far, the shocking stat regarding Internacional is the fact they have only played 14 matches so far.
It truly is sad to see two giants of Brazilian soccer in the situation they are in, especially when it’s due to a natural disaster like a flood.
The third team from the south of Brazil is Juventude. Juventude wasn’t affected as badly by the floods and different from the other two teams from the south, Juventude has in fact been over-performing in the Brazilian league.
With 21 points from 17 matches, Juventude has been exceeding all expectations and the only question left is will they be able to keep it up.
As we move from the south, we will also move up the table, where below the league’s leader, Botafogo, you’ll find their rivals Flamengo.
Flamengo has been deadly this season—boasting both the best attack, with a total of 32 goals scored so far, and the league’s top scorer, Pedro, who has scored 9 goals so far.
With 37 points from 18 matches, Flamengo has high hopes of being able to catch up to Botafogo as soon as possible. Something that may happen soon as their next match is against Atlético Goianiense, and Flamengo are the big favorites to take the win.
The reason it’s expected that Flamengo will win is because Atlético-GO has been the worst team in the league so far.
Obtaining only 12 points from 19 games, Atlético-GO is currently in last place and it’s hard to imagine a world where the team from Goiânia escapes relegation.
On the topic of relegation, it’s impossible not to talk about Fluminense.
The current champions of the Libertadores, who boast a squad full of household names like Marcelo, Thiago Silva, and Fabio, have surprisingly not been able to connect this season and have spent most of it at the bottom of the table.
However, recent changes in management and the arrival of Thiago Silva have caused an uplift in spirits at the “Tricolor Carioca.”
As a result, Fluminense has been improving. With two wins in their last two games, Fluminense has recently been able to leave the last position behind and begin their journey to avoid relegation.
As it stands, Fluminense sits in the nineteenth position with 14 points gained in 18 matches played.
Closing off the relegation zone, which contains Grêmio, Atlético-GO, and Fluminense, you will find Vitória. The recently promoted team currently sits in eighteenth place in the league with 15 points from 19 matches.
The interesting thing is the word “Vitória” means victory in Portuguese, and if Vitória wants to avoid relegation, they need to act fast and find their way to more victories—or it’ll be too late.
Also in the relegation battle, you’ll find Cuiabá and Criciúma.
Both teams are right on the edge, with Cuiabá being the first team out of the relegation zone and Criciúma right above them.
Cuiabá has 17 points in 17 matches, and no, they haven’t tied every game.
While Criciúma has 18 points out of 17 matches.
Both teams have the warning lights on and a clear understanding of the danger they are in.
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Criciúma Esporte Clube, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Cuiabá EC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Talking about danger, it’s impossible not to talk about Corinthians.
The “Timão” from the state of São Paulo has also been in an endless fight against relegation all season.
With 19 points in 19 games, Corinthians sit uncomfortably in the fourteenth position, with the understanding that all it’ll take is a few good results and they’ll stop worrying about relegation and maybe they’ll even be able to dream of qualifying for a continental competition.
For some, a continental competition is more than enough, and that’s a perfect way to introduce the next team we’re going to talk about, Red Bull Bragantino.
Red Bull Bragantino has gained 25 points from 17 matches and sits in the ninth position in the league, right above Galo. Bragantino has no expectations for anything beyond a continental competition. The only question is will they go to the Sul-Americana or will they make a historic run and qualify for the Libertadores.
Qualifying for the Libertadores would definitely be a much better ending for Bragantino’s season, but before that, they have a myriad of hard games in front of them. With the next being tomorrow against Fluminense.
One thing that’ll often happen when a team qualifies for the Libertadores is they’ll understand they don’t have the squad depth to do what Flamengo, Botafogo, and Palmeiras are doing, which is competing for everything, and instead, they’ll just focus on the Libertadores.
This is exactly what São Paulo FC is doing.
São Paulo is without a doubt one of Brazil’s biggest teams—in fact, to many they are the biggest team in the country.
Being the only team to have won every trophy possible within the realms of Brazilian soccer, São Paulo is an intelligent team and their focus on the Libertadores is very well thought out—as the continental tournament is a much more prestigious and important championship.
However, this isn’t to say that São Paulo has been lacking when it comes to the Brazilian league. With 19 games played and 32 points made, São Paulo is currently sixth in the title race.
Above São Paulo is Cruzeiro and above Cruzeiro is Fortaleza.
Fortaleza is without a doubt the most slept-on team in Brazil.
The very well-structured base that the team is built on, mixed with the phenomenal coach that they have, have made Fortaleza into a very powerful team. So much that they currently sit in fourth place with 33 points from 18 games.
Another team that many people have slept on this season has been Bahia. The team, owned by the same group that owns Manchester City, has been playing outstanding football and currently holds seventh in the league.
Right below Bahia, in the eighth slot, you’ll find Athletico Paranaense—yes, Brazil has so many teams whose names sound like Atlético.
Athletico has made 25 points from 17 matches, and with a competitive team, it’s expected that they’ll only improve as the season goes.
Athletico is a big contender for the Libertadores and I’m sure that fans and pundits alike would be disappointed if all they were able to achieve was a Sul-Americana.
However, to some, a Sul-Americana would mean a lot. Meet Vasco.
Vasco is without a doubt Brazil’s most entertaining team.
Based in Rio de Janeiro, the “Gigante da Colina” has been a big candidate for the title of “most improved” in this year’s edition of the Brazilian league.
The team, which spent a big part of the start of the league in last place, now sits in eleventh with 23 points from 18 matches. And with the signing of Philippe Coutinho, it’s only expected that Vasco will improve and improve and who knows, maybe even clinch a Libertadores position (side-eye side-eye).
The final team out of the twenty competitors is Palmeiras.
With 36 points from 19 matches, Palmeiras is a heavy favorite for this year’s title. Having won last year’s edition of the league, Palmeiras comes to the table with a star-filled squad, the best coach in the country, and a reputation of being Brazil’s equivalent to Manchester City. Still alive in all possible competitions—the Brazilian Cup, Brazilian league, and the Libertadores—it wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone if the team based in São Paulo finished the season with another league title under their belt.
The league’s first half has been highly competitive, with many exciting games having taken place within the last few months. One can only imagine just how good it’s going to get from here.
The title race is tight with all eyes on Botafogo as many question if they will bottle it all again like last year.
The relegation battle, on the other hand, is just as entertaining. Will Fluminense make it out? Are Vitória doomed to go back to the second division?
All these questions and more will only be answered with time.
And time is what we’ve got, with games running all the way till December.
This edition of the Brazilian league promises to have a fiery finish. With a whole other half to go, stay tuned to the Roadrunner for all your Brazilian soccer news!
