Atlético-MG or Botafogo? Who would be the best Libertadores champion for Inter? This is a question that a good part of the Colorada fans are asking themselves this Saturday due to the final of the South American competition held in Buenos Aires and the final decisive weeks of the Brasileirão.
In practical terms, champion Botafogo would open another direct place in next year's Libertadores and confirm Inter in the group stage of America's main competition. Inter is six points behind São Paulo (59), the only team that could still, mathematically, knock Roger Machado's team out of the classification zone for the Conmebol tournament.
Furthermore, seventh place – today Cruzeiro, with 48 points – cannot reach São Paulo, which is in sixth place. It turns out that Flamengo, fifth, opens another place in the Libertadores for having been champion of the Copa do Brasil. Therefore, the G-8 could be confirmed with the champion team from Rio. And Corinthians, in ninth, would be wide-eyed fighting for another spot.
Inter faces Flamengo to continue dreaming of the national title
To continue dreaming of the Brazilian title, Inter must score the remaining nine points in the national championship and hope for parallel results from Botafogo and Palmeiras. In the scenario of Inter getting 74 points, the Rio team would not be able to beat São Paulo in the last round. If they draw, Colorado would have to make up a six-goal difference.
In the dispute against Palmeiras, the calculation is more complicated. Abel Ferreira's team cannot score four of the six points they still have to play for, as they have one more victory in the campaign since the first round.
