Though it sits resplendent in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, some will tell you that the Maracana stadium speaks with a Sao Paulo accent.
It is a provocation. There has long been rivalry between Rio de Janeiro and its neighbouring state Sao Paulo. But in the provocation, there is more than a kernel of truth.
Since its inauguration in 1950, Sao Paulo clubs have lifted silverware in the Maracana 16 times. And on Saturday, 16 will become 17. Palmeiras and Santos, two giants of futebol paulista, who share a rivalry that dates to the days of Pela and have both experienced triumphs there before, will meet on the iconic stadium’s turf in the final of the Copa Libertadores.
For both clubs, the game is momentous, but for different reasons. Journalist Francisco De Laurentiis, who covers Palmeiras for ESPN, tells i, “A Libertadores title and trip to the Club World Cup would be the consolidation of the reconstruction that Palmeiras has undergone since 2015.”
How to watch Copa Libertadores 2021 final
- Date: Saturday 30 January
- Kick-off time: 8pm (GMT)
- TV: BBC Red Button, iPlayer and BBC Sport website (coverage from 7.50pm)
After a glorious spell in the 1990s, which culminated in the club’s only Libertadores to date in 1999, Palmeiras declined, suffering relegation twice and amassing debts. Yet through responsible management, the construction of a modern arena and the backing of wealthy sponsors, they become one of Brazil’s most successful sides in recent years.
National titles in 2016 and 2018 cemented Palmeiras’ reputation as Brazil’s most decorated club domestically. But a series of painful Libertadores exits mean continental triumph remains elusive. Those near misses have bred a Libertadores fervour among the fanbase, who sing of their “obsession” for it.
For Santos, on the other hand, the Libertadores is so special because it is the competition that lifts them up when they are down. They were the first Brazilian side to claim a continental title, Pele’s team winning back-to-back in 1962 and 1963, and experienced success again in 2011 with a team led by a teenage Neymar.
Lima, a young presence in the team of the early sixties who played almost 700 times for the club, tells i: “The Libertadores was always special. Everything about it. You spent all week in a hotel preparing for the game. And the technical level of the adversaries was exceptional.”
Lima won the finals of the 1963 Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup in the Maracana for crowds of over 100,000 – and he will be one of the fortunate few to watch inside the ground on Saturday. “We have magnificent memories of the Maracana. We played against Milan, Benfica, Boca Juniors and always had the support of the people of Rio.”
Santos suffered a long fallow period in the 1980s and 1990s, but since the turn of the century, have been successful in the Libertadores again. They have consistently reached the latter stages and, in addition to the glory of 2011, lost a final against Carlos Tevez’s Boca Juniors in 2003.
Yet this season has been hard. Portuguese coach Jesulado Ferreira was fired in August 2020 and club President José Carlos Peres was impeached in November following a series of scandals. Additionally, Santos have had to deal with a Fifa-imposed transfer ban.
But as Santos fan and UOL journalist Bruno Freitas says: “When the club is in chaos, somehow Santos manage to create a competitive team. It happened with Robinho’s generation [in 2003], it happened with Neymar’s generation and it’s happened again now.
“When [the manager] Jesulado left, we were talking about avoiding relegation, but [his replacement] Cuca had an immediate impact.”
To support their two star players, jinking wingers Marinho and Yeferson Soteldo, Cuca has called upon several academy products. He has handed chances to teenage forward Kaio Jorge, now Santos’ top scorer in the Libertadores, as well as fellow youth team products Sandry and goalkeeper John. All of them excelled as Santos beat Boca 3-0 in the semi-final earlier this month.
“The youth work that Santos do is marvellous and always has been.” Santos legend Lima explains. “[They] do fantastic physical and technical work and give opportunities to the boys.”
Another striking trait of the manager is his demonstrative religiosity. He wears a Virgin Mary t-shirt – as well as his lucky underwear – and prays beside the pitch. Freitas believes it is a motivational ploy: “Cuca is a master of creating narrative using faith. Most Brazilian players are Christians, so it works.”
However much they believe, though, overcoming a strong Palmeiras side, that also features a healthy quota of promising youngsters, remains a tough ask.
After bringing in big-money stars for 2018 and 2019, Palmeiras went into this season with a new strategy. Journalist De Laurentiis says: “Several promising athletes were promoted from the academy, like Patrick de Paula, Gabriel Menino and Danilo – as well as Gabriel Veron.”
The last of the names mentioned is perhaps the most exciting, and has been heavily linked with Manchester United. But he may be on the bench on Saturday, his lightning pace and skill saved for the second half. The other three meanwhile, are likely to start in midfield, looking to use their passing range to release Palmeiras’ forwards. In top-scorer Luiz Adriano, they have experience, and, as De Laurentiis points out, Adriano “made a habit of scoring in finals when he was at Shakhtar Donetsk.”
Like Santos, Palmeiras also have recently appointed coach. Portuguese Abel Ferreira arrived in October and his direct, attacking tactics and refreshing honesty have made a positive impression.
In the semi-final against River Plate, Palmeiras won the away leg 3-0. But they were, as Ferreira admitted, a little fortunate to get through after River won the return 2-0 and forced save after save from goalkeeper Weverton. If Ferreira does now go on to win the Libertadores, he will become the second Portuguese coach to do so in successive years, after Jorge Jesus’s Flamengo beat River Plate in the final last season.
Most in Brazil have Palmeiras down as the slight favourites, owing to their superior resources and stronger bench. Yet the stress of the situation makes predictions difficult.
Lima’s advice for dealing with the pressure would be the same Pelé gave him sixty years ago. “You have to remember how you got to the final,” he says. “You can’t think, ‘The opponent is stronger, or has this or that.’ They have to worry about you. You have to value the approach that got you to this point.”
Unfortunately, as is so often the case in South America, both sides will soon lose their best players to Europe and the Far East. But Saturday promises to be some last hurrah.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3cnNEP5
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