Goias EC

Led by the defensive-minded Jair Ventura, Goiás performed irregularly throughout the first part of the season, but started to improve precisely when Ventura adopted a more positive approach. 'Verdão' relied heavily on the excellent form of their main striker Pedro Raúl to achieve a mid table position in the end. Goiás reached the final of Campeonato Goiano, as usual, but this time they lost to their arch-rivals Atlético on the penalty shootout. Verdão started continental competition with a home goalless draw in Sul-Americana's first round. Guto Ferreira is the man in charge with Goiás, this season, replacing Jair Ventura. Guto kept the defensive competence of last season and is trying to improve the team's quick attacking transitions. Guto's 4-3-3 is then designed to have less ball than the opponents and play more directly. Goiás lost their two biggest references in attack: goalscorer Pedro Raúl and technical reference Dadá Belmonte. Reunaldo, Savio, Marquinhos Gabriel and Caio Vinícius are also important departures for the new season. To face these multiple departures, Goiás brought a set of players that were a bit out of favour in their former clubs, but had had glorious seasons a few years ago, like midfielder Felipe, striker Matheus Peixoto or full-backs Sander and Bruno Melo. Goiás will try to use the good tactical stability and mental pragmatism that they have been perfecting in recent months, so one should expect them to pick many points against teams that may be more audacious but less tactically wise. There are significant concerns about the drop of quality due to the departure of the few talents they had last season. New man Palacios looks like a quality addition as playmaker. Vinícius is now the main man in attack, because Pedro Raúl and Dadá Belmonte are gone, but also because the no. 7 looks in much better fitness conditions than in last season. Tadeu, in goal, remains the team most reliable player. And let's all keep an eye on 17-years old Kauan in midfield.