Fighting point by point for classification in the Campeonato Paulista, Inter de Limeira returns to the field this Saturday, at 8 pm, when they host Ituano at the Major Levy Sobrinho stadium, in Limeira, for the 11th and penultimate round of the group stage. Ituano also has a chance to advance, but at the same time it is experiencing a crisis and fighting against relegation. The news will be the debut of coach Alberto Valentim.
After five unbeaten games, four wins in a row, Inter de Limeira failed to achieve good results in the last three games. They lost to Água Santa 2-1 and drew goalless with Santo André, both away from home, and lost at home to São Paulo, 3-0, last Wednesday, in Brasília, in a delayed game.
Despite this, they are still in G-2 of Group C, in second place with 14 points. Mirassol has the same score, but is in third due to the number of victories (4 to 3). Red Bull Bragantino (18) and Corinthians (10) complete the bracket. Inter de Limeira has a chance of qualifying in this round, as long as they win and Mirassol loses to Portuguesa. Inter’s last game will be against Santos, away from home.
To assemble the team, coach Júnior Rocha will be without defender Diego Jussani, suspended, and right-back Felipe Albuquerque, injured. Matheus Mancini and JP Galvão should enter, respectively. In attack, Juninho, top scorer with three goals, suffered an injury again and is out. Everton Brito, with ankle pain, is doubtful and could make way for midfielder Albano, although Gabrielzinho is also an option to maintain the formation.
Ituano remains in crisis in Paulistão. Their only victory came in the second round, when they scored 1-0 at Corinthians, on January 24th. Since then there have been three draws and five defeats, the last at home, 1-0, against Red Bull Bragantino. Furthermore, they lost to São Luiz-RS 2-1, in Ijuí (RS) and were eliminated in the first phase of the Copa do Brasil, in which they only needed a draw. The result saw the dismissal of coach Marcinho Freitas and the arrival of Alberto Valentim.
In the general classification, which defines the two relegated teams, Ituano is in 15th place, with six points, forming Z-2 with Santo André, with five. Despite this, they still have a real chance of qualifying in Group A, because their opponents haven’t taken off. Santos leads with 22 points, but second-placed Portuguese has seven. Ituano appears in third, followed by Santo André.
Coach Alberto Valentim will only have two games in this first phase to save the team from relegation and still seek classification. After Inter, Ituano faces São Paulo at home.
In this first game, the coach will have a headache in setting up the defensive system. Defenders João Vialle and Vitão are suspended. The experienced Claudinho has not played since the beginning of February due to injury and is also unlikely to be available.
Marcel, who started the season as a starter, and Vinícius Poz, a 20-year-old silver medalist who didn’t even debut as a professional, are the original options, unless Valentim decides to improvise other players.
DATASHEET:
INTER DE LIMEIRA
INTER DE LIMEIRA – Max Walef; JP Galvão, Maurício, Matheus Mancini and César Morais; Emerson Santos, Lucas Buchecha and Gustavo Bochecha; Everton Brito, Quirino and Andrew. Coach: Júnior Rocha.
ITUANO – Jefferson Paulino; Léo Oliveira, Marcel, Vinícius Poz and Léo Duarte; Miqueias, Aluisio and Yann Rolim; Vinícius Paiva, José Carlos and Pablo Diogo. Coach: Alberto Valentim.
REFEREE – Vinícius Gonçalves Dias Araújo.
TIME – 8pm.
LOCATION – Major Levy Sobrinho Stadium, in Limeira (SP).