Craque Neto's statement directed at Palmeiras and Flamengo

Former player and current presenter Craque Neto brought an analysis that shook up the sports scene by pointing out possible surprises in the dispute for the title of the Betano 2025 Brasileirão. During the program "Os Donos da Bola", on TV Bandeirantes, Neto highlighted that Palmeiras and Flamengo are, in his opinion, the main candidates for the trophy in this edition. However, he drew attention to the rise of three other teams that, according to him, could enter the fight.

When commenting on the unexpected competitors, Neto mentioned Cruzeiro , Bahia and Bragantino as the "intruders" that threaten the favorites. According to the presenter, Raposa and the Bahian club have enough strength to maintain their good performance and make life difficult for Palmeiras and Flamengo. "I don't think Bragantino has the team and squad to compete until the end, but Cruzeiro and Bahia do," said Neto during his participation in the program.

Cruzeiro is currently in second place in the Brazilian Championship, which reinforces the former player's opinion. In fact, the Minas Gerais team's campaign has been consistent, with important results that have kept it in the top spots of the table. Bahia, in turn, has been showing improvement in performance and gaining essential points to stay close to the top.

While attention turns to direct competitors, Neto also made a comparative assessment between Flamengo and Palmeiras. According to his analysis, the Rio de Janeiro club has the most qualified squad in the country, but the São Paulo team stands out for its tactical organization and regularity on the field. "Flamengo has the best squad, but Palmeiras is a better team," the commentator highlighted.

The Brazilian football calendar, however, has been put on hold. After the 12th round, the Brasileirão was interrupted due to the Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States between June 14 and July 13. The stoppage brought a break in national competitions, but at the same time it raised expectations regarding the performances of Brazilian teams in the international tournament.

In the case of Palmeiras, preparations for the World Cup are already underway. The delegation landed in Greensboro, in the United States, on Monday (June 9), the city that will be the team's base during the group stage of the competition. The team will debut on Sunday (June 15), at 7 pm (Brasília time), in a match against Porto.

The Portuguese club's coach, Martin Anselmi, also made a point of praising Palmeiras before the match. In an interview, the coach stated that the opponent "knows how to play" and highlighted the individual quality of Estêvão, a young prospect revealed by the Brazilian club's youth teams. Verdão's matches in the World Cup will be covered live by Bolavip Brasil, starting 1h30 before each game, bringing detailed information about lineups, behind-the-scenes action and the main plays.