The glow for the climb was sensational! To start with, Avaí secured the spot by beating Sampaio Corrêa, by 2-1, at Ressacada, in front of 15,000 fans.
Leão da Ilha or Sport Recife joined Botafogo (champion), Goiás (vice) and Coritiba (third place) who had already confirmed the other three spots in the elite competition through Serie B.
Those who remained at the top of the Series B table were CSA, Guarani, CRB, Náutico, Vila Nova, Vasco da Gama, Operário and Ponte Preta. Suffering to continue playing in the second most important division of national football, Bruque, Cruzeiro, Sampaio Ferreira and Londrina remained.
Cruzeiro and Vasco disappoint in Serie B
Although both teams are on the list of acquisitions of Arab billionaires, Cruzeiro and Vasco da Gama deceived everyone, by finishing, both teams far from the top four.
Raposa finished in 14th place on the standings with 48 points, 31 less than the championship winner, Bota. The team claimed 10 wins, 18 draws wins and 10 losses.
For Vasco, they did manage to finish in 10th place. However, there was a huge sense of under-performing at the club. Despite 13 wins, 10 draws and 15 losses, they could only manage 49 points and a woeful defence seemed to be the order of the day. A tally of 52 goals conceded meant they had one of the worst defences in the competition, meant only Brusque (56) conceded more.
Plans to move up to the first echelon were postponed the other way, with promises of perfect performance, the following year.
What about Raposa (the nickname given to Cruzeiro)?
The blue of Minas Gerais was everything but the team that fans believed that in 2019 it would soon be a new team. The delay in ascending to the national elite makes fans worried.
Mainly because the team finishes in 14th place, with, ironically, the number of wins and losses (10 each), while having 18 draws.
Who suffered relegation?
Who said goodbye abruptly (or not!) were the teams of Remo, Vitória da Bahia, Confiança and Brasil de Pelotas.
The highlights are the number of teams from the northern side of the region, while Remo, one of the teams that became one of the most popular in the country in the 20th century, hosts its games in Belém, capital of Pará.
Confiança and Vitória are separated by 300/400 km. The first team, called Azulino proletarian, owns the biggest supporter of the smallest Brazilian state and returns to Serie C in 2022, the team had ended a period of 27 years without ascending to the second top tier.
Eternal rival of the tricolor Bahia, Vitória have been suffering for three years. After dropping to Series B, they will descend to Series C as a flashlight.
The only team in the south region, Brasil de Pelotas, returns to third position as one of the favorite teams to rise.
Which players caught the eye?
Although Brusque didn’t move up to Serie A and didn’t even aim for this feat, Edu, 28 years old, showed what he came for! The athlete ended up in the top scorer position with 17 goals and won a tough dispute to claim the award.
With 35 years on the road, Leo Gamalho helped Coritiba to obtain a surprising campaign. Born in Rio Grande do Sul, the player who has already made history in the Copa do Brasil, ended his campaign with 16 goals scored.
Who finished as the next Botafogo prodigy?
According to what we’ve seen so far, the youngest main star from Serie B was Matheus Nascimento. At 17 years old, the winger has increased his performances helping “Fogão ” to lift up to the top flight. Botafogo’s wonderkid ended the season with only three games in the second division. Although he hasn’t played too much, his market value has upgraded to more than £4million.
Who moved up to the second division?
The relegated places will be occupied by Ituano, Tombense, Novorizontino and Criciúma, who won the accesses in Serie C.
Highlight for Ituano, the team where Gabriel Martinelli took his first steps.
It’s barely over, but Serie B 2022 promises to be great. Will teams like Cruzeiro and Vasco be able to climb the Serie A?
