The Brazilian Championship Starts Today: Will This Be The Greatest Of All Time?

Hello friends, how are you?

The long-awaited day has finally arrived for all football fans. Here in Brazil, people usually say that the year only starts after Carnival. As for football, I usually say that the teams actually start the season with the start of the Brasileirão. It is the most important championship in the country and the elite teams will compete to see who will take the title of Brazilian champion at the end of the year.

It is no exaggeration to say that this year will be the biggest and most competitive championship of all time. Just look at the amount of investment made by the teams and also see the stars that will be on the fields all over the country. The big news is, of course, the return of Neymar Jr]() to Santos and although he is not 100% in physical shape, he has already shown that he can be a key player in the championship.

Who Are the Title Favorites?

Always before the start of the championship, it is quite common for sports media to announce the favorites for the title, those who will be just extras throughout the championship and also those who will be relegated to Série B. It is actually fun and entertaining to follow, because in addition to rooting for our team to always seek the title, we can also have some surprises during the season, whether pleasant or not.

In my opinion, and I will try to be as un-clubby as possible, the favorites for the Brasileirão title this year will be only Flamengo and Palmeiras. Thinking only about these two teams is not an exaggeration and much less selfish on my part. They are the two most structured clubs in recent years and together they have 14 national titles in the last 10 years. Palmeiras has won 6 national titles, while Flamengo, the champion with the most titles, has won 8.

Of course, there are other clubs that could surprise us, and although some of them didn't have a good start to the season, such as Botafogo, we can't underestimate the current Brazilian champion. In addition to Botafogo, I believe that Atlético Mineiro, São Paulo, Internacional and Corinthians could also have a good championship and, depending on the results, could win the title.

Regarding the teams that could be relegated, it will depend on both their performance on the field and their financial situation. Speaking of which, it is very common to see teams with financial difficulties and with numerous coaching changes throughout the championship. These are clear signs of a relegation scenario, but Grêmio in 2021 was something quite unusual. With a good team and no financial problems, it was relegated that year.

For those that could be in danger of being relegated to Série B, I can say that there are many favorites for this season. Last year, some managed to make a fantastic comeback, but it is not known if they will be able to repeat this year. Vasco and Red Bull Bragantino could have serious problems during the competition and will need a lot of support from their fans and the strength of their squad to stay in the elite.

Others that may have serious problems and will fight at the bottom of the table are Mirassol, Vitória, Sport, Juventude and Ceará. Many of them were promoted to Série A and were in Série B last season. But we know that, in addition to assembling a competitive squad, this is not enough to remain among the top 20. Financial power may be a problem and, in this regard, there are some problems that will probably happen this season.

I remember what happened with Cuiabá, which was relegated last year due to unpaid debts. Cuiabá suffered a lot due to the weakening of its squad and was unable to replace it. The result was its first time in relegation. Corinthians, Santos and Atlético Mineiro, the three clubs combined, have R$34 million in debt and, since there is no financial fair play in Brazil, this unfair mess will continue.

One thing is certain: the 20 clubs will compete in the biggest and most important competition in Brazil, many surprises await us and I am very excited to be able to follow what will certainly be the biggest of all time. The tendency is always for the competition to be better each year, but this season could be very special. And you, which teams could win the title? Will your team achieve this feat?

Posted Using INLEO