My Impressions – Round 8 of the Guanabara Cup

It’s rare to leave Maracanã with the impression of having enjoyed the loser’s performance more – but I guarantee it happens.

As in the classic this Sunday (12), in Maracanã, won by Fluminense.

And I am not referring to injustices, but to an optimism that you will understand.

For now, with the exception of Flamengo, which was poorly planned, it can be seen that the teams of the big clubs in Rio have evolved physically and technically.

Botafogo, Vasco and Fluminense are more competitive, and this is fundamental for the duel with the rubro-negros in the final three rounds.

Vítor Pereira’s team returns to the competition this Wednesday (15) and, due to the quality of the squad, is still the favorite for the State title.

But the advance of these teams will generate discomfort for the Portuguese coach.

FLUMINENSE 2 x 0 VASCO.

For a team in the assembly phase and without at least three of its best players in the offensive phase, Vasco de Barbieri had a good first half.

It surprised me, closed in lines of four, with midfielders Rodrigo and Barros dominating the spaces inside, and Pec and Galarza blocking the sides.

Fernando Diniz’s team overplayed Arias on the left and made Keno and Samuel Xavier mere spectators on the right.

And having the company of young Arthur, another extra, lost in the role of substitute for Goose.

That is: isolated, Cano did not play – and when he does not appear, Fluminense stalls.

In the second half, Diniz corrected the imbalance by putting Lima in Arthur’s place, and turned on the tricolor machine.

The team began to play on the right, and in one of them Samuel Xavier crossed, Keno made the “light cut” and Cano scored.

Barbieri sought to renew the team’s gas with Nenê and Orellano and Vasco almost tied – stopped in Fábio, a wall.

In addition, Cano closed the scoring with a historic, anthological goal, covering the goalkeeper with a left-handed shot from the middle.

Victory, to a certain extent, expected, due to the fact that Fluminense has a consolidated team, facing a depleted opponent in the assembly phase.

But it was Vasco who left the best impression, due to their intense game, organization and better collective sense.

I liked it – it’s not yet time for Vasco da Gama to look at the game’s scoreboard.

BOTAFOGO 2 x 0 BANGU.

Last year, the team led by Enderson Moreira, at the beginning of the State Championship, and later by Lúcio Flávio, conceded 16 goals in eleven GB Cup games.

Today, under the direction of Luís Castro, he has been leaked twice in seven, and has gone five without conceding goals.

It’s a clear sign of progress from the idea of ​​playing with three defensive midfielders behind a point guard.

Thanks to her, it has achieved acceptable performance and expected results.

The duo Tiquinho Soares and Victor Sá have been making an effort to occupy the spaces, but the team still has difficulties in the offensive phase.

The derbies against Vasco (on Thursday, the 16th) and Flamengo (on the other Saturday, the 25th) will be good gauges of the efficiency of this system.

VOLTA REDONDA x FLAMENGO.

The week will be important for Vítor Pereira to give more vigor to the starters with a view to the first leg of the Recopa final, on Tuesday (21) of Carnival.

Before traveling, the team will play two games at Raulino de Oliveira: one against the hosts on Wednesday (15), another against Resende on Saturday (18).

The 4-2 victory over Al Ahly last Saturday (11) earned them third place in the Club World Cup, but it did not erase the bad impression.

It remains to be seen how he will take advantage of the days leading up to the decision for the South American title to improve the players’ physical abilities.

Let’s see…

SUBTITLES / CREDITS:

Photo 1: Cano celebrates the beautiful goal that sealed the 2-0 victory over Vasco in a Maracanã with more than 50 thousand spectators – Marcelo Gonçalves / Fluminense

Photo 2 – Alex Teixeira, in his best match for Vasco, is surrounded by three tricolor markers – Daniel Ramalho / Vasco

Photo 3: John Árias, Fluminense’s standout in the match, tries to pull the team to the attack – Marcelo Gonçalves / Fluminense