Background notes for the competition were in the Friday email ahead of the first leg ties. Those games were very low scoring, just 7 goals in the first 7 (the other game is being played this evening ( edit: CAP 2-0), as I type on Monday .

 

Palmeiras will be pleased with their 3-0 win over Fortaleza as it makes the second game a formality and it is the first of five games in 13 days for them, including two big Serie A games, one with the third placed team and two Copa Libertadores fixtures, one in Paraguay. They will also be pleased that they do not have to travel to Fortaleza and instead "just" have to make the 1,800km trip to play the second leg in Cuiaba, neutral territory and 2,400km from Fortaleza. The Serie B side chose to give up their home field rights for two reasons, one money, they were paid to do so and for the state to get a high profile game and team, as Mato Grosso does not have a top flight side and secondly, for convenience, as they play a vital league game here in four days time. Fortaleza flew straight to Cuiaba after the first leg and will use the time to get used to the very hot and sticky conditions ( it is 8-9 degrees hotter than SP or Fortaleza). The game will be played at the Arena Pantanal, a large venue which was built for the 2014 World Cup (held 4 games) and it also hosted five games at the 2021 Copa America, but no top flight games since 2024, so I think this game will be considered an attraction, with one of the CONMEBOL giants in town. With that comes an obligation and I am expecting a more entertaining game than if we had played in Fortaleza and this to be more like a pre-season friendly game with both sides having other targets.

 

 

Good luck!