Brasileirão In Focus: Cruzeiro

One of the really serious contenders for the national title this season, Cruzeiro are looking for another successful season in their long, proud history. Runners-up in the Brasileirão last season, Campeonato Mineiro champions for 2011, they are widely regarded as the best team in South America.

Generally dominant so far in 2011, they strolled through the Campeonato Mineiro, dropping only four points in the regular stage and cruising through the knockout round. However, they suffered a surprise exit from the Copa Libertadores at the hands of Colombians Once Caldas, despite playing absolutely brilliantly in the group stage.

Since last year they have made some useful tweaks to the squad, some fringe players have been cut, youngsters have been sent out on loan, and useful additions have been recruited in the shape of defensive midfielder Leandro Guerreiro, Paraguayan forward José Ortigoza and Uruguayan centre back Mauricio Victorino.

They have some wonderful talents in their squad, goalkeeper Fábio is another awesome Brazilian talent in that position, great shot-stopper, and wonderful at facing penalties. In the midfield, Argentine playmaker Walter Montillo orchestrates the attack and shows week-in-week-out why he is one of the best midfielders in the league. He is such a fabulous player to watch, he dictates the tempo of the match, creates chances with wonderful through passes, and can carve open opportunities for himself with fantastic darting runs through the opposition defence.

Another huge talent in the squad is 21 year old attacker Wallyson. He has really made the step up this year with dazzling performances in the Libertadores and state championships, after he was restricted to playing a peripheral role in the team last season. Traditionally a supporting striker, he has adapted to playing as a right winger and has fitted in perfectly to the attack. One to watch for this season, and a possible candidate for top scorer if Cruzeiro performs as expected.

Wallyson is looking forward to his best season yet. (Photo: Valeska Silva)

Similar to the likes of Barcelona, they are a rather predictable side. Manager Cuca never makes too many alterations to their formation or squad selection, which has helped them form a unit of players who are able to build consistency every week. Their system is a 4-2-3-1, the aforementioned Wallyson and Roger in attacking midfield roles with the former drifting out right, and Montillo as the playmaker. Thiago Ribeiro should be preferred up front coming back from injury, but they have some other useful options for that spot like José Ortigoza and former l’OM striker Brandão.

They really have a very good chance for the title this season, as long as the team stay motivated and do not lose confidence. Alongside their strong starting XI, they have decent depth in their squad which is absolutely integral to a title challenge in the Campeonato Brasileiro. Their Libertadores exit is a worry, but over the course of a league season they should perform very well.

Expected formation:

Brasileirão In Focus: Atlético-MG

Atlético Mineiro, o Galo, is an absolutely huge club in Brazil. They are the one of the two giants of Minas Gerais state, along with bitter rivals Cruzeiro. When you consider that the state of Minas Gerais has a population of approximately 20 million people, that gives you some idea of the level of support for this club.

The free spending policies of their president Alexandre Kalil has made Atlético a very interesting team to keep an eye on, especially throughout the off-season, as they buy and sell players like no other team in Brazil. Several first team players left the club this year, World Cup 2002 winner Ricardinho was shown the door, top scorer Diego Tardelli was sold to Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia, midfielder Diego Souza joined Vasco, Obina was sold to China, and Julio Cáceres and Édison Méndez returned to their countries of birth, joining Olimpia in Paraguay and Emelec in Ecuador respectively.

Coming the opposite way, Atlético signed a wealth of new players, leaving them with a team almost completely unrecognizable from that of last season’s. Some of the more interesting additions include the signing of former Inter Milan and Roma winger Mancini, Ceará’s goalscoring forward Magno Alves, Richarlyson of São Paulo, former Avaí right-back Patric, and Dudu Cearense from Olympiakos.

As you could imagine, with so many new faces in the squad, the first big task for manager Dorival Junior is to get the team to gel together. During this year’s Campeonato Mineiro they have been impressive, showing good signs for the rest of the season. They reached the final against rivals Cruzeiro with such ease, but lost 3-2 on aggregate to their city rivals.

The team certainly has talent throughout the squad, but as is so often the job at big teams in Brazil, the manager has to try to consolidate this talent into a secure unit. Renan Ribeiro has had another good season, continuing his growth as a player and further establishing himself as one of Brazil’s best young goalkeepers. In front of him, the centre-back partnership of Réver and Leonardo Silva has impressed many, both are tall, powerful and they seem to be functioning well as a duo.

Fillipe Soutto looks to be the future of the Galo midfield.

Several young talents are also making a big push into the first team at Atlético this year, a quick glance at their first choice eleven throws up names such as Renan Ribeiro, Fillipe Soutto, Bernard and Giovanni Augusto, all of whom are under the age of 23. The real shining star from that list, in my opinion, is 20 year old Fillipe Soutto, a defensive midfielder with great passing, good aerial presence, and a maturity well beyond his years. One worry for him is that with former CSKA and Olympiakos midfielder Dudu Cearense being signed to strengthen the team for the Brasileirão, Fillipe may see himself being pushed to the bench.

Up front, Mancini and Magno Alves have the potential to be one of the most dangerous forward pairings in the Brasileirão. The latter is a complete forward, big, powerful, with decent speed and a natural eye for goal. He had a good campaign in this year’s Campeonato Mineiro, finishing with ten goals in total. Mancini has looked very impressive since he joined, albeit playing in a more withdrawn midfield role, but it seems like he will be employed just behind Magno Alves when we go in to the regular season.

Expected Formation:

Brasileirão In Focus: América-MG

A traditional team with a big history in Brazil, o Coelho ("the rabbit") has returned to the Série A for the first time in ten years. This is all the more impressive when you consider that in two years ago they finished in 20th position in the 2008 Série C. After achieving back-to-back promotions, and with the return of top division football to Minas Gerais’ third club, spirits could not be higher amongst the Coelho faithful.

During the off-season, América were fairly quiet in the transfer market, but managed to recruit some useful squad players, signing centre-back Anderson and goalkeeper Neneca (both from Santo André) and repatriating defensive midfielder Amaral who had spent a season at Cerezo Osaka in Japan.

Their squad looks good, they have cover in key positions, and they have a good balance of experience, potential and influence. In goal, 40 year old Flávio is still expected to be the first choice goalkeeper after being the man between the sticks ever since that 20th position finish in Série C. He is a very accomplished goalkeeper, and he performs an important role in the team, organizing the back line well.

Top scorer Fábio Júnior will be key for o Coelho this season.

In defence, they have several options at centre-back, Gabriel Santos and Otávio should be the preferred starters. Otávio is one to watch out for this year, one of the most impressive youngsters in this year’s Campeonato Mineiro, I certainly hope we will be seeing a lot of him. The laterais (or full-backs) will be Sheslon on the right, and Carleto will most likely be the first choice on the left after signing on loan from São Paulo. Both are typically Brazilian in style, so do not expect them to sit back in their own half much, especially with the ample cover they will have behind them.

The midfield has many possibilities, but I can be certain that we will see new signing Amaral in a defensive midfield role and 35 year old Irênio in a more advanced position. There are quite a lot of other players at América’s disposal for the middle of the park, but Irênio’s experience and technique will be key to o Coelho’s survival. A wonderful passer of the ball, great vision, and with the ability to dictate the pace of a midfield, he is of so much value to this side.

América manager Mauro Fernandes does not have too much experience in the top league, but he has shown his potential and tactical prowess since taking command of o Coelho. They are a fluid team, they can be seen playing formations with three, four or five defenders, they have plenty of different options in midfield, and this unpredictability could certainly work in their favour.

However, despite previously adventurous tactics, it is expected that América will play most of this season in a 4-5-1 formation with three defensive midfielders, two narrow attacking midfielders, and Fábio Júnior up front on his own. Their first match is at home against fellow promoted side Bahia, and I would expect this compact and cautious 4-5-1 in what is a very important encounter for both sides.

Regarding keeping América up this season, Mauro Fernandes has a massive task ahead of him. They will no doubt be amongst the favourites to go down at the end of the day, due to having a team without any real stars. But if they manage to group together as a team, become hard to beat and pick up the important points (starting with their first game against fellow relegation candidates Bahia) then they should be able to keep themselves above ground.

Expected formation: