Brazil has seven representatives in the South American Championship – Gazeta Esportiva

Brazilian teams arrive, once again, as the biggest favorites to emerge champions of the Copa Sudamericana. In the 2024 edition, seven teams will represent Brazil in the international competition, they are: Athletico-PR, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Cuiabá, Internacional, Fortaleza and RB Bragantino.

Last year, Corinthians came far in the competition, but ended up falling to Fortaleza in the semifinals. The 2012 Libertadores champion team is looking for the first South American title in its history.

Timão will debut in the 2024 edition this Tuesday, against Racing, from Uruguay. For this game, the team will have some important absences, such as midfielder Maycon, who has been having a great season, left-back Diego Palacios and the recently signed Igor Coronado, who has dengue fever.

Another team that debuts this Tuesday is Internacional. The Porto Alegre team begins its journey towards a second championship against Belgrano, from Argentina, away from home. The first victory came in 2008, undefeated, beating Estudiantes in the big decision.

Colorado arrives for the duel under pressure, as they ended up being eliminated by Juventude in the semi-finals of the Campeonato Gaúcho. Despite this, Inter is one of the big favorites to win the tournament due to the high investment made this season, signing names like Borré, Alário, Thiago Maia, among others.

Athletico-PR is the third and last Brazilian that will debut in the South American this Tuesday. The team that recently announced the signing of Cuca will play against Sportivo Ameliano, from Paraguay, also away from home. The team arrives motivated and continues with 100% success since the arrival of the new coach, registering four victories in the last four games.

Champion in 2018 and 2021, Furacão is looking for a third victory to isolate itself as the biggest winner of the continental tournament. Currently, the team shares the position with: Boca Juniors (Argentina), Independiente (Argentina), Independiente del Valle (Ecuador) and LDU Quito (Ecuador).

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On Wednesday, RB Bragantino will debut against Coquimbo Unido, from Chile, at Nabizão. The team from São Paulo comes from negative results in the last month. Firstly by being eliminated by Botafogo in the third phase of the Libertadores, and then by losing to Santos in the semi-final of the Campeonato Paulista.

Defender Léo Ortiz, who was one of the main players in the squad, transferred to Flamengo and is the team’s biggest loss. The team led by Pedro Caixinha is looking for its first tournament title. Despite being a finalist in 2021, they ended up being defeated by Athletico-PR, 1-0.

Fortaleza arrives at the 2024 South American Championship with a bitter taste, as they lost the 2023 decision to LDU Quito. On that occasion, the Brazilians even came out ahead on the scoreboard, but conceded a 1-1 draw and ended up defeated in the penalty shootout.

The northeastern team’s debut will be on Wednesday, against Sportivo Trinidense, from Paraguay, away from their fans.

Also taking to the field on Wednesday is Cuiabá, who will have one of the most complicated duels of the round and will host Lanús, from Argentina, at Arena Pantanal.

The Mato-Grossense team returns to the competition after two years and seeks to advance to the knockout stage for the first time since the current regulations began. In 2022, the team was in third place in a group that included Melgar (Peru), Racing (Argentina) and River Plate (Uruguay).

After a four-year hiatus away from international competitions, Cruzeiro will debut in the Sudamericana against Universidad Católica, from Ecuador, only next Thursday, away from home.

The last time Cabulo participated in an international tournament was in 2019. On that occasion, the team had a good campaign in the group stage of the Libertadores, but ended up falling to River Plate, on penalties, in the round of 16. At the end of that same year, the team would end up relegated to Series B of the Brazilian Championship for the first time in its history.

Threat to Brazilians

Despite being the big favorites, the Brazilian teams have reasons to worry. This is because Argentina is also strong and has super traditional teams from the continent.

Boca Juniors, Racing, Argentinos Juniors and Lanús are some of the teams that could threaten the Brazilian title. Of these, the first three hold the Libertadores title. Lanús, in turn, won the Sudamericana in 2013.

Boca Juniors were left out of the 2024 Libertadores, however, they were finalists for “Eternal Glory” in 2023. Furthermore, the team has a very well-matched pair of attackers: Cavani, who has spent time at major European clubs, and Merentiel , former Palmeiras player.