Coritiba visit Gigante in Brasileirão opener

Inter prepare for start of Brasileirão – a championship they haven’t won in 33 years (Alexandre Lops/Inter)

Inter head into the 2012 Campeonato Brasileiro with aspirations of a sustained challenge for the championship, meaning a home win against Coritiba on Sunday is widely expected.

Three points against the Paranaense state champions would put an end to a busy week for the club that saw two departures, vice-director of football Luís Anápio Gomes replaced by Luciano Davi and Tinga suddenly ended his second-spell at the club, inking a three-year deal with Cruzeiro.

On the field, Dorival Junior’s preparations have been dented with the news of two injury concerns in midfield with Sandro Silva (knee) and D’Alessandro (thigh) both unavailable, with Elton and Dagoberto expected to be given the nod. Bolívar and Josimar both carry over suspensions from last year’s competition and must also sit out. Jô and Jajá have also been omitted from the squad, having been disciplined for unprofessional conduct follow the club’s defeat to Fluminense.

The test for Inter is in defence and Rodrigo Moledo will be hoping to mark his 50th apperance for the club with a clean-sheet. Inter have looked vulnerable at the back when up against stronger opposition so far this year, particulalry when defending from set-pieces. The Colorado could find themselves more exposed with the defensive steel of Sandro Silva missing, and Guiñazu must shepphard the emerging Elton throughout the game in order to shield the defence, particularly if full-backs Nei or Fabrício are caught out of position.

Internacional: Muriel; Nei, Rodrigo Moledo, Índio e Fabrício; Elton, Guiñazu, Oscar e Dátolo; Dagoberto e Leandro Damião

Coritiba: Vanderlei; Ayrton, Demerson, Emerson e Lucas Mendes; Willian, Júnior Urso, Gil e Everton Ribeiro; Roberto e Everton Costa (Anderson Aquino)

Luiz Adriano return?
Meanhwile, Inter have confirmed thier interest in three European based players, with the club hopeful of adding a central defender and striker to the squad. Lucio and Nilmar are the two highest profile names to be linked with a return to the Colorado but a more realistic proposition would be the return of Ukraine based striker Luiz Adriano. The 25-year-old visited the Beira-Rio this week where he hinted of a return to Brazilian football follow his €3 million switch to Shakhtar Donetsk from Inter back in 2007. Inter have also confirmed their interest in Guarani’s Neto, but will face competition to sign the commanding central-defender, whilst the club expect to secure the future of on-loan midfielder Sandro Silva this week.

CAMPEÃO – Inter start slow but clinch 41st Gauchão title

Inter defeat Caxias 2-1 (3-2 agg) to win the Gaúcho state championship (Alexandre Lops/Inter)

Internacional were crowned 2012 Campeonato Gaúcho champions following a 2-1 (3-2 agg) win against Caxias in the Beira-Rio.

Inter left it late to take control of the game as Sandro Silva drew Inter level midway through the second-half before Leandro Damião sealed the Colorado a state record 41st Gauchão title.

A disjointed start to the second-leg proved costly, as again Inter were exposed at a set-piece. This time a Caxias corner found its way to Michel to head the underdogs in front from close range in the 27th minute, as the Colorado trailed at the break.

Arguably suffering a hangover from their Libertadores defeat to Fluminense on Thursday night, the early stages of the second-half, the gloom over the Beira-Rio failed to lift when Nei squandered the chance to level from the penalty spot, after Oscar had been hacked down by Caxias’ Lacerda. Keeper Paulo Sérgio read Nei’s shot to save low down in his bottom right corner to deny Inter, as it increasingly began to look like that the defending Gauchão champions would suffer their second defeat in a week.

Tensions were eased shortly after however as Inter fans finally had something to cheer about. Oscar did well to work the ball into the box from the right touchline and Sandro Silva capitalised as Caxias failed to clear the ball, with a placed shot beyond the reach of Paulo Sérgio, to score his first goal for the club in the 66th minute.

Five minutes later Inter struck the killer blow. Leandro Damião’s striking instincts were once again evident as he beat Lacerda to reach Fabrício’s cross, sending a glancing near post header just beyond the reach of the Caxias keeper.

A nervy ending for Inter ensued and Dorival Junior saw his frustrations boil over the technical area and was sent off, as the Colorado held firm to clinch the state championship, with Muriel tipping over a fierce strike from the edge of the area at the death.

With little time for Inter to savour their triumph, thoughts quickly turned towards to the start of the Brasileirão campaign next weekend, which begins with the visit of Coritiba next Sunday.

Nilmar rumours resurface
Meanwhile, the club confirmed its intentions to bolster the squad ahead of their search for their first Brasileirão title since 1979.

“We are looking for someone to attack, yes,” affirmed Luis Gomes Anápio. “Leandro Damião is a constant in the Seleção [Brazilian national team], now in the short term, and then also with the possibility of going to the Olympics. We need to strengthen.”

One such name could be former striker Nilmar, who despite being strongly tipped to return to Brazilian football throughout any transfer window has always stayed put at Villarreall – until now perhaps.

With the Spanish side suffering relegation on the weekend, there is now a genuine belief Nilmar will move on, and Inter president Giovanni Luigi wasted no time in confirming their interest.

“Inter monitors the situation of Nilmar. I think he will leave after relegation of Villarreal in Spain. At this point, there is absolutely nothing about this subject.”

Internacional: Muriel; Nei, Rodrigo Moledo, Índio e Fabrício; Sandro Silva, Guiñazu, Tinga (D’Alessandro), Dátolo (Dagoberto) e Oscar; Leandro Damião

Caxias: Paulo Sérgio; Michel, Lacerda, Jean e Fabinho; Umberto (Marcos Paulo), Paraná (Alisson), Mateus e Wangler; Caion e Vanderlei (Rafael Santiago)

Inter set for Gauchão decider/Doubts over Jô future

Inter can claim their 41st state title with win over Caxias today (Alexandre Lops/Inter)

Inter can secure their 41st Campeonato Gaúcho title later today against Caxias – but must do so without Jô and Jajá.

Both players will be absent from the Beira-Rio for the Gauchão final second-leg after the club confirmed that the pair had been suspended for a breach of discipline following Thursday night’s Copa Libertadores defeat to Fluminense.

“Jô and Jajá have been removed [from the squad] for tomorrow’s for an act of indiscipline,” confirmed the club’s vice-director of football, Luiz Gomes Anápio. “The directors took this action and a resolution on this matter will be taken during the week.”

The news will raise fresh doubts over Jô’s future at Inter after going AWOL earlier in the season, before being forced to train with the juniores, and it is highly likely that the board will look to move the misfiring and misbehaving striker out of the club, whilst Jajá too, can expect a severe warning over his future conduct.

On the pitch, Inter have a chance to ease some of the pain caused by their midweek exit from the Copa Libertadores by being crowned Gauchão champions – a defeat at the hands of Caxias would be unthinkable for many and could have serious repercussions, putting coach Dorival Junior under significant pressure at the very least. And a 1-1 first-leg draw leaves the tie evenly balanced against a Caxias side who are looking to claim a major scalp to win what would be their second-ever state title.

“We were superior in the two matches [against Flu], but were unable to win. What remained is the state championship and it will be looked upon as if it were the primary goal of the season,” he explained.

D’Alessandro is expected to make his return from injury, with a place on the bench, with the same team that started against Fluminense also expected to line-up against Caxias.

Internacional: Muriel; Nei, Rodrigo Moledo, Índio e Fabrício; Sandro Silva, Guiñazu, Tinga, Dátolo e Oscar; Leandro Damião