With the Brazilian Championship all but concluded, it’s perhaps to take a closer look at what the final league standings means for sides going into next season.
Of course, the obvious is Flamengo defending their title in dramatic fashion and the likes of Vasco, Botafogo, Goais and Coritiba all suffering relegation to the Serie B.
In an earlier article, we explained what could have gone wrong for the relegated sides.
Away from domestic action, we’ll be taking a look at participants in two of the most popular continental competitions in South America.
Copa Libertadores
Flamengo, Internacional, Atletico MG and Sao Paulo are the four sides who already have a direct spot in the group stage of the Libertadores 2021. Winners in 2019, Flamengo failed to defend their title last season after they were eliminated by Argentine outfit Racing via a 5-3 aggregate. Internacional also bowed out of the competition last season after losing to Boca Juniors on penalties.
Finishing fifth and sixth respectively in the Brazilian Championship, Fluminense and Gremio will take part in the Libertadores qualifiers and will be widely expected to see off their opposition.
Copa Sudamericana
Ironically, both of last season’s Libertadores finalists will not be taking part in the next edition. Current holders, Palmeiras, alongside Santos, Atletico-PR, Bragantino, Ceará and Corinthians will be the Brazilian representatives in the competition.
A competition that has historically been dominated by Argentine sides, there will be hopes a Brazilian team can win it this time around. The current holders are indeed an Argentine outfit as well, Hernan Crespo’s Defensa y Justicia. The last Brazilian side to win this competition was Flamengo back in 2017.
The stage is set for another interesting set of continental competitions and we’ll be here to cover them all as we always do.
