The Derby that is worth little and is worth a lot – 02/15/2023 – Juca Kfouri

The game will still be played in the first phase of Paulistinha and both Palmeiras and Corinthians know they will be in the playoffs.

It’s true that finishing ahead in the general classification gives you a command advantage when it comes to deciding, which, with a single crowd, makes a difference — although nobody cares much about that, unless when the time comes.

Palmeiras is campaigning undefeated, with six wins and two draws, while the Corinthian trajectory is mediocre, with four wins, two draws and two defeats.

Leader with six points more than the rival, even if it suffers an unlikely defeat, Palmeiras must secure the first place until the end.

Corinthians are left with the enormous challenge of inflicting their first defeat on their biggest rival, and they have exactly the unique crowd in Itaquera as their weapon.

Saying it’s mission impossible hurts the reality of the sport and even more when it comes to classics.
But since the arrival of Abel Ferreira at Alviverde, eight Derbies have been played, with five wins from Palmeiras, two of them in Itaquera, and only one victory from Alvinegra.

Wagner Mancini, Sylvinho and Vitor Pereira had the task of facing the Lusitanian and only the latter did well, with a victory and a draw. Pereira lost all three and Mancini lost twice, once 4-0, plus a draw.

Fernando Lázaro must be without sleep, as every sensible Corinthians fan is worried about. Or not, because he already takes defeat for granted.

Except that a sensible Corinthians player is a rare item in the square and a Corinthians player defeated before playing is not a true Corinthians fan.

That’s why Fiel will go confidently to the classic in Itaquera. How it will come back is up to them.

Losing will result in a crisis in alvinegro and will be annoyance on the green side.

---

PSG E A CHAMPIONS

The European Champions League is for Paris Saint-Germain what the Copa Libertadores of America was for Corinthians until 2012: it seems unattainable, whether due to bad luck in football, the draw of rivals, errors by goalkeepers or referees, the loss of goals scored.

The fact is that the millionaire French club does not adorn with Ear, as if she and the Eiffel Tower did not fit in the same city.

Paris is well worth a mass, but Champions rejects it.

The 1-0 defeat by Bayern Munich, at the Princes Park, sounds like prior notice for elimination still in the round of 16.

Let’s agree that for those who have Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar in the attack and Sérgio Ramos and Marquinhos as a pair of defenders, one more disappointment will be worthy of taking Sheikh Nasser Al-Khelaïfi to collect the check.

And, Allah willing, invest in Parque São Jorge.

At least at Corinthians, the continental trauma is already overcome.

BETS$TUES

No one can claim not to have been alerted: where there are bets, there is corruption. Football is no exception to the rule, it has never been, here and around the world: Totonero, Mafia da Loteria, Caso Edílson Pereira de Carvalho, etc. etc. etc.

Listing the cases is even idle, there are so many.

Will sports programs sponsored by the “bets” —which also finance several clubs— be interested in investigating suspicions of possible money laundering?

Stanislaw Ponte Preta once said: “Let’s all get busy or restore morality”.

PRESENT LINK: Did you like this text? Subscriber can release five free hits of any link per day. Just click the blue F below.