Football Season Guide

Cuiabá managed to survive in their first ever presence in top flight league. The team from Mato Grosso had a rough start with 11 games without winning, but grabbed a very good sequence in the middle of the season, with just 3 defeats in 15 games. Experienced defender Paulão, Flamengo loanee Pepê and injury-prone forward Clayson were the key players in 2021. In 2022, Cuiabá has been having the usual easy run in State Championship, picking just 1 defeat after 13 games, and smashing competition in the final with an aggregate score of 7-2. Also won the two cup rounds played so far. Coach Pintado arrived in February to lead Cuiabá, after not having succeed to avoid relegation with Chapecoense, last season. Also last season, Pintado also failed to have a positive impact with Goiás, earlier in the season. Experienced Walter will continue to be a rock in goal, with João Carlos as a trustworthy replacement. Alan Empereur arrived last season from Palmeiras, and is now firmly established as Cuiabá’s solid option at the back. Paulão is now 36, which raises questions about him keeping the excellent form shown in past 2 seasons. Marllon is a very decent replacent, should Paulão show signs of fatigue. João Lucas and Uendel should remain the options for full-backs. Auremir, Max and Ullian Correia are important departures in midfield, but the club has brought the big name Rodriguinho and foreigners Osorio and Rivas, and the unstable talent of Valdívia to the ranks. A former start in Série A, Rodriguinho has been in great shape in 2022. However, the greatest news are that Cuiabá kept the maestro Pepê for another season. Clayson was the most talented forward on the squad, and is now gone, but his constant physical issues were always a gamble. For the new year, ‘Dourado’ brought André Luís and the very irregular and emotionally unstable André. Everton Cardoso will try at Cuiabá to recover his best form after a couple of poor seasons with São Paulo and Grêmio.