There were four games for no fan to put a defect in the return of the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil.
No less than 14 goals and more than 150,000 fans at Maracanã, Itaquera, Arena da Baixada and Independência, the latter in Belo Horizonte, with the smallest contribution, just 10,000.
Sixty thousand in Rio, 43 thousand in São Paulo, 39 thousand in Curitiba. Not bad.
In the only low-goal game, between Athletico Paranaense and Flamengo, the 1-0 was born from Pedro’s spectacular bicycle, which paved the way for his trip to the World Cup in Qatar.
Five goals in Corinthians’ brilliant victory over the frightened Atlético Goianiense, in the 4-1, built with three goals from the finally named Yuri Alberto, in addition to the exuberant performance of Renato Augusto and Fiel.
Four in the tie between Fluminense and Fortaleza and as many in the tie between América and São Paulo.
The old rivalry, predominant in national football until the mid-1960s, between Cariocas and São Paulo is back in the balanced clash between Corinthians and Fluminense and in what opposes the favorite Flamengo to São Paulo.
In knockout, anything can happen, and it would be foolhardy to discard, for example, a Majestic to decide the tournament, Corinthians in search of the fourth cup, São Paulo for the unprecedented.
More likely a Fla-Flu, the red-blacks behind the tetra and the tricolors of the second championship?
Or will we have the Clássico do Povo between the two most popular teams in the country? Or a tricolor shock?
Judging by the performances of the four strikers involved, it’s hard to know.
Because the carioca Pedro, the Argentine Cano and the Goiás Luciano are in a state of grace, and the José Yuri Alberto seems to have awakened to success also in Pauliceia, after having conquered the gauchos in Colorado.
For the rare reader and rare reader who likes numbers, São Paulo has a big advantage in direct confrontation, with 56 wins and 46 losses, in addition to 40 draws with Flamengo.
The bad news for tricolors is in the recent data: the Cariocas have won all the last four games, two in Rio (5-1 and 3-1) and two in São Paulo (4-0 and 2-0).
Fluminense has a game advantage in history with Corinthians, 42 to 41, with 33 draws. In the four most recent games, they have lost twice away from home (5-0 and 1-0) and won once and drawn another at home (1-1 and 4-0).
Will it be advantageous to decide at Maracanã and Itaquera for Flamengo and Corinthians?
For the first, not so much, because in the quarterfinals he won the spot in Paraná. For the second, yes, such a difference that Fiel has made in games against even opponents.
The end?
If the climate of Rio-São Paulo in the Copa do Brasil wasn’t enough, by extreme coincidence, Palmeiras and Flamengo, leader and vice-leader of the Brazilian Championship, meet this Sunday (21) at the green house to play an extraordinary classic between the two best teams in the country.
Victory alviverde practically liquidates the competition, because 12 points of lead will prevent any dream.
Even a tie will make it very difficult for the remaining 15 rounds to take the difference.
Vitória carioca allows speculation, although the six points ahead of the paulistas would be comfortable.
The leader’s situation is so good that the week was one of training and rest, without saying that he won’t have São Paulo ahead of him in two days.
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