The 2012 State
Championships are winding to a close. We
preview the various finals as several Serie A teams prepare for a successful
conclusion to their preseason.
Rio State
Championship Finals - Botafogo v Fluminense
Before we start,
a brief explanation of the tournament.
The 16 teams in the Rio state Championships play two mini tournaments or
stages. Both have the exact same format. First, a two group round robin stage in which
the top two from each group progresses to the knockout stages. Then, they play a semifinal and a final to
determine the winner of each stage. The
first stage is called the Taca Guanabara and the second stage is called the
Taca Rio. The winner of the two stages
square off in the two legged Championship finals.
This year, the
finals feature two of the usual suspects as Fluminense, the 2010 Serie A
winners take on Botafogo, who flirted with the 2011 Serie A title. Both teams have shown strong form during the
state tournament, underscored with effective wins in the Taca finals.
Botafogo,
finished unbeaten in the league stage of the Taca Rio, second in Group A, with
18 points from five wins and three losses.
Afterwards, they proceeded to knock out Bangu 4-2 in the semifinals and
Vasco Da Gama 3-1 in the final to claim the second stage crown. Uruguayan
forward 'El Loco' Sebastien Abreu notched five strikes, including a hat trick,
along the way.
Fluminense's
performance in the first stage of the Carioca tournament was more dramatic but no
less effective. In the Taca Guanabara, they finished second in Group B with 13
points from eight games, before knocking off Botafogo on penalties in the
semifinals and then Vasco Da Gama 3-1 in the final. Former Lyon striker Fred
scored a pair either side of a goal from Deco in the win over Vasco.
Botafogo's loss
on penalties to their rivals in the finals has been their only loss so
far. They finished the first stage also
unbeaten, atop Group B. Fluminense on
the other hand, failed to emerge from their group in the second stage. So, although Fluminense has the better head
to head record and arguably a more dogged defense, the form book is in
Botafogo's favour and the latter are clear favourites to win. Expect a tight final with Abreu making the
difference.
Sao Paulo State
Championship Finals - Santos v Guarani
In the Paulista
Championship, the format is more standard.
The 20 state teams play a 19 match round robin stage. The top eight teams in the standings, then
playoff in the knockout rounds to determine the Paulista champion.
This season, Brazilian rising start Neymar leads a start studded Santos against surprise
outfit Guarani in the finals. While both teams were off the pace in the league
stage, finishing third and fourth respectively, they came alive during the
playoffs. Guarani first upset heavily
favoured Palmeiras 3-2 in the quarterfinals, before seeing off another
unfancied team, Ponte Preta, 3-1 in the semi-finals. Fabinho Souza and Medina each scored a brace
in the respective wins.
Santos on the
other hand, first eased past Mogi Mirim 2-0 in the last eight, before putting
on a clinic in beating Sao Paulo 3-1, away at the latter's Morumbi home. Neymar once again did most of the damage,
adding to his goal versus Mogi Mirim, with a spectacular hat-trick against the
6-3-3 squadron. In the nascent Brazilian
calendar, that was one of the highlights of the season.
With excellent form
and a side peaking at the right time, the odds are very much on Santos to win
the 2012 State title. Only a massive upset would see Guarani triumph. In their only meeting so far this year,
Santos won 2-0 at Guarani. Neymar,
Santos' talisman, has scored 16 goals in 21 games this far.
