Vasco da Gama defeated Botafogo by a narrow margin, and the struggle for the Brazilian League title, which seemed a few months ago to have been decided in Fogo’s favor, intensified.
The departure of Portuguese coach Luis Castro at the end of last June, to take over as coach of Al-Nasr, was a before-and-after event in the season of the Rio team, which is still at the top of the competition. Neither Bruno Lage nor Lucio Flavio were able to repeat what their predecessor did, who gave the team a 15-point advantage in the Brazilian league.
On Monday, Botafogo lost 1-0 at Sao Januario Stadium to Vasco da Gama’s Ramon Diaz. Thanks to a wonderful goal scored by Paulo Henrique in the 29th minute, they left the relegation zoneleaving Cruzeiro on the red line that owes the match.
Fogao has achieved 2 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses in his last 11 matches, leaving many points along the way in an unusual way, as happened in last week’s painful fall to Palmeiras.
On the thirty-second date They missed another chance to maintain the lead, as they are now tied on 59 points with a Palmeiras side who have a more contentious fixture. But behind them appear, very close, Bragantino with 58 points, Gremio (56), Atletico Mineiro (53) and Flamengo (53).with Red Bull and Minghao having the same matches as the leader.
With six dates remaining (18 points at stake), the Brazilian league is very open, despite the fact that a few months ago it seemed impossible for Botafogo to miss its third national title (1968 and 1995, the other two).
Moreover, as usually happens in the Brazilian League, there are very few points separating the teams that will be relegated (America MG and Coritiba are more relegated, but Goias and Cruzeiro are within striking distance of Vasco, Bahia, Santos, Corinthians, Cuiaba, Inter, San Pablo and Fortaleza). , while Fluminense, the new American champions, and Paranaense appear in the middle of the table.
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