Coluna – The great duels of Brazilian football in 2023

The interview that the president of Flamengo, Rodolfo Landim, gave to the program No Mundo da Bola, on TV Brasil, last Sunday (15) signaled what we will see in the 2023 season. continents, leaving aside the regional rivalry, which until then has fueled the fan’s passion. Classic of the Millions, Majestic, Superclassic Mineiro, Ba-Vi, Gre-Nal, Fla-Flu. All these nicknames refer to games played by teams from the same state, and they were the ones that cemented, over time, the passion of the fans. Some of them still take place at the national level, but with the ups and downs of the Brasileirão, they lost their annual attendance. And there is no denying that the eventual relegations, with the consequent revenue drops caused – also by bad administrations – reduced the interest in some games. In a way, that’s what Landim told TV Brasil. For him, Palmeiras will be Flamengo’s biggest opponent in 2023, as it has been in recent years. In view of the national and continental achievements that the two teams have shared. In a cut of the last five years: from 2018 to 2022, Flamengo and Palmeiras each won two Copa Libertadores, two Brasileirões and a Copa do Brasil, that is, of the 15 main titles in dispute, ten were with the duo. Flamengo still added two Supercups and a Recopa, a cup that Palmeiras also won. And who can threaten this duo? If we look at last season, we can immediately think of Fluminense, champion of Rio de Janeiro and who fought for the main positions in the Brasileirão. Tricolor kept the base, gained reinforcements and continues with Fernando Diniz. Enter the fray strong. I also include Internacional, Atlético-MG, Athletico-PR and Corinthians. Landim also recalled the clubs that returned to the A series, and others that have already joined the SAF process, in particular Vasco, Grêmio, Botafogo and Bahia. As you can see, the spectrum is large. State teams are already rolling, with some teams using reserves, Under-20, taking the opportunity to train and do tests. Evidently the classics will draw attention, but it is already known that the state title is not a reference for other competitions. In February, the Copa do Brasil begins, then Libertadores, Sul-Americana, Brasileirão… Let’s wait to see which rivalry will speak louder in 2023.

Agência Brasil