Palmeiras today start trailing the path leading to the club’s eleventh Brazilian Championship title. The current champions are one of the favorites, alongside Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Grêmio and Inter.
Since Felipão’s return mid-season last year, Palmeiras have not been defeated in the Brazilian Championship: 23 games and counting. Felipão has already confirmed that the successful strategy of last year’s championship will be reused. An alternative team will be lined up to maintain every player in optimal physical conditions.
This year’s edition has a special taste. Aiming for more equal treatment – including a bigger cut of the share – Palmeiras have hardened negotiations with TV Globo and the parties have not yet reached an agreement for the broadcasting rights on open TV and pay-per-view (more details here).
Tonight’s Palmeiras vs Fortaleza will only be availabe on cable TV, the two teams having closed a deal with Turner. For the first time in many years, a game of the Brazilian Championship will be broadcasted exclusively by a company that it is not TV Globo. Turner chose its cable channel TNT to be part of history.
The new set of rules, as approved by the International Board, will be in use as of the first round of the championship. Also, for the first time ever, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be used, but we have already seen in the São Paulo state Championship that this in practice is a zero guarantee of more transparent refereeing.
Besides beating the opponents on the pitch, Palmeiras must prepare for additional difficulties this year. Us, supporters, must also prepare ourselves and support the team in this fight.
Scoppia che la vittoria è nostra!
– – – ooo – – –
by Augusto Anteghini Oazi & Kristian Bengtson
ANYTHING PALMEIRAS 