Find out more about the duel between Portuguesa and Bangu in the 1st round of the Campeonato Carioca on January 17th, Wednesday, at 4:50 pm, at the Luso-Brasileiro Stadium, in Ilha do Governador, North Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
In the 2024 Carioca Championship, 12 teams face each other in 11 rounds in the initial phase. The first four advance to the knockout stage, where the winner is the Guanabara Cup champion. Teams from 5th to 8th place play in the semi-finals of the Taça Rio, with the winner earning a place in next year’s Copa do Brasil.
Portuguesa
Regarding the clubs in focus, Portuguesa stands out as one of the pillars of Rio football, with a historical trajectory that reverberates in recent times. Last year, the team reached the quarter-finals of Series D, however, regrettably, they were unable to overcome the obstacle represented by Caxias.
However, a more auspicious chapter was recently written by Portuguesa when they won the Copa Rio title in 2023.
In this victorious journey, the team revealed a remarkable performance, overcoming challengers such as Duque de Caxias, defeated in both matches with scores of 1×2 and 3×1; as well as Serrano, over whom they triumphed on their own soil by 3-2 and secured a draw away from home by 1-1.
In the final, the opponent was Olaria-RJ, and Portuguesa, after a 2-2 draw in the first clash away from home, celebrated a 3-0 victory at home, thus winning the prestigious trophy.
In this edition of the Campeonato Carioca, Portuguesa-RJ has coach João Carlos Ângelo, who took over in January, and experienced striker Hernane Brocador, known for his achievements at Flamengo, including top scorer in 2013 and the Copa do Brasil in the same year. Hernane brings optimism to the team, which will adopt a 4-3-3 tactical system.
Bangu
On the other hand, Bangu brings with it less favorable memories of the last edition of Carioca, in which it was in ninth place, below the classification zone.
The final stretch of the tournament was especially challenging, as Bangu accumulated four consecutive defeats, at the hands of teams such as Botafogo (2×0), Volta Redonda (0x4), Fluminense (0x5) and Vasco (2×0).
Furthermore, Bangu was also in recent action in the 2023 Copa Rio, in which they failed to reach the round of 16, being eliminated by Duque de Caxias, with a 2-1 aggregate.
Bangu has the longest title drought in the Carioca Championship among the twelve teams that compete in the competition, with its last victory occurring in 1966.
Bangu coach, Alexandre Gomes, praised the pre-season training, highlighting the team’s tactical and physical progress. The club’s physiologist, Diego Nascimento, detailed physical preparation and the importance of adapting to the high temperatures in Bangu. The planned tactical formation is 5-4-1.
Regarding recent direct clashes between the two clubs, Bangu enjoys a slight advantage, including a 1-0 victory in the most recent meeting, in January last year.
Conclusion:
As a conclusion of my analysis, the prognosis suggests a slight favorable inclination for Portuguesa, especially due to its consistency and the presence of an experienced player like Hernane Brocador in its squad.