Internacional returns to the field for the Campeonato Gaúcho on Wednesday night, when it will make its debut away from home against the São Luiz team, from Ijuí.
The Campeonato Gaúcho has a total of 12 teams, the 8 best teams advance to the playoffs and the last 2 fall to the second division.
São Luiz
São Luiz appears in fifth place with one point, after achieving an important draw away from home, against São José, in the first round.
It wasn’t a great performance, but considering that the vast majority of the league’s 12 teams advance to the playoffs, it could have been a pivotal point.
On this occasion, a truncated game, not very dynamic, especially due to the type of pitch that the Passo D’Areia stadium, in Porto Alegre, has.
Through a penalty, São Luiz opened the scoring with Diogo Sodré, in the 28th minute of the first stage. After that they played more cautiously, but still allowed a draw with Renê Sousa, from the São José team.
The tendency is that even at home, São Luís is a team with lower lines, Internacional absolutely dominant in possession and the home team abusing of the counterattacks.
Playing against Grêmio and Internacional often gives teams from the interior the visibility they so desperately want, but the game proposal is not exactly offensive construction.
Internacional
Internacional is the big favorite for this season’s title, it was the team that strengthened the most since last year and managed to debut with victory in the first round.
With Beira-Rio closed, due to punishment for incidents in the last edition of the Rio Grande do Sul league, Inter faced Avenida, with some players left out.
But even so, it had its main highlights from last season on the field, such as Alan Patrick, Enner Valencia, Charles Aranguiz, among others.
Inter still had difficulty, winning 1-0, with few real dangerous chances created.
The team’s goal was scored by striker Wanderson, with assistance from Enner Valencia.
But Inter had dynamic problems, due to less than ideal preparation.
Inter only had 12 days of pre-season before their debut in the state league and we should certainly be careful, with some markets demanding an impeccable performance from these favorite teams.
The tendency is for coach Eduardo Coudet to use the same base team that he played in, perhaps making some changes due to the pace of the game, but still, with his starting team.
Inter will still be without goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, but will have their defense back in the starting lineup and an offensive team, with many options and once again featuring Alario, one of their signings this season.
Conclusion:
My betting option will be on Internacional’s victory, which doesn’t have a very high odds, for sure, but still, the handicap can be somewhat risky.