It’s impossible not to think of Flamengo as stronger than Corinthians before the start of the Libertadores quarter-final duel.
With Dorival Júnior, Flamengo played 15 matches, scored 31 goals and conceded 12. It spared players, but made it clear that there is belief in winning every tournament. “There is no demobilization. We are going to have a relaxed team against Atlético-GO and against Corinthians.”
Corinthians is from another family. The crowd accepts the competitive team, even lackluster. Neo Química Arena will scream Curíntia from the first to the last minute.
Gabigol will be told: “Welcome to paradise”. Football heaven is the packed stadium, not hell. With Vítor Pereira, Corinthians has fewer wins than the sum of draws and losses (15 wins, 11 draws, 9 losses), but is undefeated in Itaquera, with 10 wins and 5 draws.
They haven’t conceded goals at home for seven matches. Only América-MG, São Paulo and Guarani have scored goals at the Neo Química Arena since the Portuguese coach debuted in March.
Flamengo is overwhelming in attack, Corinthians, safe in defense. Maybe it would be stronger offensively if Renato Augusto could play. There is a chance of being at Maracanã, in the second duel against the red-blacks, but until then Corinthians will have to arrive alive.
Even Corinthians players express their astonishment with Vítor Pereira. He arrived preaching pressure to recover the ball, inhabit the attacking field and, on the contrary, always asks for the presence of a winger completing a line of five in defense. Corinthians plays in 4-3-3, when they can. When it doesn’t, 5-4-1 on them.
As Vítor Pereira is not Felipão, no one will say that he invented the boom. The looks are more benevolent than with the five-time world champion coach. It is possible for the coach to plant his team defensively, if he understands this as the best strategy.
It will be a game, not philosophy for the rest of your life.
Itaquera understands. It would be different if the situation were the opposite and Maracanã had to shout “Oh, my Mengão” and like you even though you had to defend yourself.
It won’t be an attack vs. defense, but you can bet that there will be moments when Corinthians protect themselves from an overwhelming attack with Gabigol, De Arrascaeta, Éverton Ribeiro and Pedro. Attention to the striker, this function so disappeared, in high performance, from the fields of Brazil. Pedro scored nine times and gave five passes with Dorival Júnior. He participated in 14 (45%) of the red-black goals with the new coach. Penalty only in the matches as a starter, they were 14 of 19 goals (73%).
Yuri Alberto played four times and still hasn’t scored or given a decisive pass. At Internacional, the fans complained about scoring three goals in one day and going three matches without scoring. It was Johan Cruyff’s complaint about Romário – no, Yuri isn’t even Baixinho, with his 1.82 m.
It is likely that Vítor Pereira will choose Piton from the left, to mark Rodinei, Willian from the right, to attack Filipe Luís.
Flamengo will attack. Corinthians will try to be a strategist. The red-black is a favorite. The game will be decided on the field.
Strategy to beat stronger rivals is good for those who want to understand how the game works, just as attacking is good for those who love football.
The inventor of the boom
If Felipão invented the boom, as he did after the game against Flamengo, he must have invented it on Sunday (31). Athletico punished São Paulo, with less ball possession, but seven tackles in the attacking field. There are good people playing like that in Europe.
Our game of them
The Brazilian team shone in the women’s Copa América, the first major tournament played – and won – without Marta and after her. But the team of Debinha, Adriano, Ary Borges, Bia Zaneratto will be good even when Brazil becomes the country of football, of men and women.
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