The wait is over: the Brasileirão has begun. The favorites to win it, Palmeiras and Flamengo, debuted with victories, while São Paulo, Grêmio, and Botafogo extended their poor footballing moments.
The two-time champion started the search for their third consecutive title on a good note. Palmeiras won 1-0 away against Vitória, who had won the Bahia Championship last week and the second division tournament last year.
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Endrick started the match, although the only goal was scored by Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos in the 20th minute. Amid a busy schedule of matches and some injuries, coach Abel Ferreira did without important players such as Flaco López, Joaquín Piquerez, and Gustavo Gómez.
Another title contender, Flamengo, secured an away victory against Atlético Goianiense. Without shining and in a match with controversial refereeing decisions, the Rio de Janeiro team found the three points thanks to a great free-kick goal from Nicolás de la Cruz and a penalty converted by Pedro in stoppage time, against the newly promoted team that played the entire second half with one man less due to the expulsion of Alix Vinicius.
However, the leader after the first round, by goal difference, is Athletico Paranaense. The team coached by Cuca thrashed Cuiabá 4-0 at home. Pablo, Agustín Canobbio, Gonzalo Mastriani, and Leonardo Godoy were the ones to find the net.
What was expected to be one of the most attractive matches of the first round ended in a 0-0 draw. Corinthians and Atlético Mineiro couldn’t find a difference, even though Timão played with one more player for the entire second half due to the expulsion of Rodrigo Battaglia in Galo.
Disappointments at the start of the Brasileirão
Among the disappointments, Grêmio must be mentioned. The Porto Alegre team lost both of their Copa Libertadores matches and suffered another defeat, this time in Rio de Janeiro against Vasco da Gama.
São Paulo is also struggling. Eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Campeonato Paulista, they suffered a loss and a win in the Libertadores and lost to Fortaleza at Morumbí in the start of the Brazilian championship.
Botafogo also extended their crisis. Without points after two Libertadores rounds, they were now defeated by Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte. With Artur Jorge as the new coach, Fogao came up empty-handed in stoppage time, with a goal from Rafael Elías.
All the results on the debut
- International 2 – Bahia 1
- Criciúma 1 – Juventude 1
- Fluminense 2 – Bragantino 2
- São Paulo 1 – Fortaleza 2
- Vasco da Gama 2 – Grêmio 1
- Athletico Paranense 4 – Ciuabá 0
- Atlético Goianense 1 – Flamengo 2
- Corinthians 0 – Atlético Mineiro 0
- Cruzeiro 3 – Botafogo 2
- Vitória 0 – Palmeiras 1
