Author: Shreyas Sharma
Palmeiras, led by coach Abel Ferreira, currently hold the title of Brazilian champions and have started the season with an impressive ten-match unbeaten run. However, the unbeaten run came to an end with a 1-0 defeat to Bahia in their last match. Heading into the next round, Palmeiras are second in the standings, trailing leaders Botafogo by five points. Botafogo will be formidable opponents in their next match, having secured a narrow 1-0 win over Cuiabá during the week. Botafogo’s defense has been solid this season, conceding just seven goals so far.
Gremio, who were promoted last season, have been enjoying a remarkable campaign in the 2023 Brazilian Serie A. Positioned in the top four and in contention for a place in the Copa Libertadores, Gremio go into the next round with confidence. In their last match, the team won convincingly and remarkably 3-1 against América Mineiro at the start of the week. Grêmio will now face Coritiba, a team at the bottom of the standings without a single win in their first 11 games.
During the week, América Mineiro suffered a decisive 3-1 defeat against Grêmio in their last match. Going into the next round, América Mineiro are in the bottom four of the table, dangerously close to the relegation zone. In their last four matches, the team has managed just one win. Their next challenge is Internacional, a team that has recently won back-to-back games and is determined to secure a place in the top six.
Meanwhile, RB Bragantino come into their next game on the back of a surprising and dominant 4-0 win over formidable Flamengo in their last match earlier this week. Before that, the home side had been struggling with a bad run of form. Despite recent setbacks, the team still holds a position in the top half of the standings going into the weekend’s round of fixtures. Their next opponents are Goiás, who are currently in the bottom four and in the relegation zone. With just three wins in their first 11 games, Goiás face a challenging task against RB Bragantino.
After their recent 2-0 home defeat to Corinthians, Santos go into their next match on a disappointing note. Despite a promising start to the season, the team has failed to win in its last nine games in all competitions. Their next challenge is Flamengo, a team that suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat away to RB Bragantino, halting their remarkable winning streak under coach Jorge Sampaoli.
After being promoted last season, Cruzeiro made a good start to the 2023 Brazilian Serie A campaign, placing themselves firmly in mid-table. However, they suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Fortaleza in their most recent match during the week. In the next round, the club will face São Paulo, the team managed by Rogério Ceni, who are currently outside the top four and the qualifying places for the Copa Libertadores. São Paulo have been enjoying a strong season and recently pulled off a remarkable 2-1 comeback win against Athletico Paranaense.
Fortaleza, on the other hand, go into the game on the back of a narrow 1-0 victory over newly promoted Cruzeiro in their most recent game of the week. Despite being frustrated by a series of draws this season, the home side have only suffered two defeats in their first 11 games, maintaining a mid-table position. His next challenge is Atlético Mineiro, managed by former Celta de Vigo coach Eduardo Coudet. Although Atlético Mineiro had a slow start to the season, they have significantly improved their performance and currently occupy a place in the top four heading into the weekend’s fixtures.
Despite their problems off the pitch, including the recent match-fixing scandal, Fluminense surprisingly find themselves outside the top four going into the next round of fixtures. The previous match resulted in a 1-1 draw against a strong Atlético Mineiro side. Fluminense will now face Bahia, a team in the bottom half of the table with just three wins in their first 11 games.
For this match, Athletico Paranaense suffered a 2-1 defeat against São Paulo in their most recent away game earlier this week. The team made a good start to the 2023 Brazilian Serie A season, but their performance has dwindled, securing just one win in their last five games. Now they face Corinthians, a team that has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks after a shocking start to the campaign. Given the current form of both teams, there is potential value in placing a double chance bet in favor of the away team.
Outsiders Vasco and Cuiabá close out round 12. The hosts have now lost six in a row and are bottom of the table. The guests, having failed at the start of the season, are gradually taking shape. In the last five rounds, they have won twice, drawn twice and in the last round lost to leaders “Botofago” by just 0:1.
Key players:
André has been a beast for Fluminense in the current championship. To date, he has completed 695 passes in 738 attempts and has an accuracy of 94.2%, the best of any player who has completed at least 70 passes. He also created eight chances, but none of them resulted in a goal for his team, so he would be a player to keep an eye on come match day.
Marlon Xavier has acted as a wall for Cruzeiro, winning 33 tackles this season, the most of any player. He is also the player who has attempted the most tackles this season, with 48. He has played three games without conceding a goal for his team and is also in the list of the five players who have made the most interceptions this season. He will therefore be a player to watch on match day.
Forecasts
Palmeiras will beat Botafogo and close the gap on Serie A . Palmeiras can benefit from their recent success against Botafogo, having come out victorious in the last two meetings between the two teams. In fact, Palmeiras are unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 head-to-heads. In addition, Palmeiras have maintained an unbeaten record at home, showing a run of five games without defeat, including four impressive wins.
When it comes to matches at this stadium, Botafogo have struggled against Palmeiras, with a run of six games without a win and five defeats. Although Botafogo have made a good start this season as visitors, their recent form has been poor. They were on a two-game losing streak away from home until their last game, when they managed to beat Cuiabá 1-0. That’s why we hope Palmeiras wins.
Gremio to further solidify their position in the top three. Grêmio can draw on their recent record, having won three of the last four meetings against Coritiba. The most recent meeting ended in a 1-1 draw. Grêmio have an unbeaten record when playing at home, with three wins and two draws in five league games. On the other hand, Coritiba have been going through a terrible run of form away from home, with four defeats and just one draw in their five away games this season. That’s why we’re expecting Gremio to win this game.