By Louis Smith.
As the start of the national leagues in Brazil approaches, we are reaching the business end of the 2023 state championships with the majority due to be settled over the next two weekends.
Campeonato Alagoano
A victory for Clube de Regatas Brasil would see them lift back-to-back state championship titles for the first time since 2016 and 2017 and it would be their 33rd Alagoana triumph.
Agremiação Sportiva Arapiraquense come into the final hoping to end a 12-year wait for State Championship silverware. This would be their eighth crown.
Final 1st leg
ASA V CRB – Saturday 1st April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:00 PM (GMT)
Final 2nd leg
CRB V ASA – Saturday 8th April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:00 PM (GMT)
Campeonato Baiano
The first leg between these sides ended in a 1-1 draw last Sunday.
Jacuipense have never won a state championship title, their closest moment came last year, when they suffered a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Atlético de Alagoinhas.
Bahia have underperformed in the previous two state championships and will be hoping to secure a record 50th title on Sunday evening.
Final 2nd leg
Bahia V Jacuipense – Sunday 2nd April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:00 PM (GMT)
Campeonato Cearense
The two most successful sides in Ceará will battle it out for a record-breaking victory.
Ceará and Fortaleza both have 45 state titles.
Ceará haven’t won the Cearense since 2018.
Fortaleza have won the previous four editions of the competition, three of which came with final victories against Ceará.
The last time a side won five straight Cearense titles was between 1915 and 1919 when Ceará won the first five editions of the tournament.
Final 1st leg
Fortaleza V Ceará – Saturday 1st April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:00 PM (GMT)
Final 2nd leg
Ceará V Fortaleza – Saturday 8th April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:00 PM (GMT)
Campeonato Goiano
Goiás are the record winners of the Goiano with 28 titles to their name, however, they haven’t won one since 2018.
Atlético Goianiense have won three of the last four editions of the competition.
Last season, Atlético GO enjoyed a 4-1 victory over Goias to lift their 16th title.
Final 1st leg
Atlético Goianiense V Goiás – Sunday 2nd April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:00 PM (GMT)
Final 2nd leg
Goiás V Atlético Goianiense – Sunday 9th April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:00 PM (GMT)
Campeonato Paranaense
Athletico Paranaense will be hoping to lift their 27th Paranaense title. Their last triumph came in 2020.
This would be Paulo Turra’s first title as Athletico manager.
FC Cascavel are seeking their first state championship title. In 2021, they came runners-up after suffering a 6-5 penalty shootout defeat to Londrina.
Final 1st leg
FC Cascavel V Athletico Paranaense – Saturday 1st April 2023 – KICK OFF 22:00 PM (GMT)
Final 2nd leg
Athletico Paranaense V FC Cascavel – Sunday 9th April 2023 – KICK OFF 21:00 PM (GMT)
Campeonato Paraibano
Treze come into the game seeking their 17th triumph in the Campeonato Paraibano. Their last victory came in 2020 against Campinense.
Sousa Esporte Clube have only lifted the Paraibano on two occasions, the most recent coming in 2009. Since the victory in 2009, Sousa have suffered defeats in the 2012 and 2021 finals.
Final 1st leg
Treze V Sousa – Saturday 1st April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:30 PM (GMT)
Final 2nd leg
Souza V Treze – Sunday 9th April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:30 PM (GMT)
Campeonato Mineiro
Atlético Mineiro will be hoping to make it a record 48th Mineiro state title. They have won the last three editions of the competitions.
América Mineiro haven’t won or featured in a state championship title since 2016 when they defeated Atletico 3-2 on aggregate.
The sides met in the 2021 final and after 180 minutes of football, both matches finished 0-0, meaning Atletico claimed the title after performing better in the group stage of the tournament.
Final 1st leg
América Mineiro V Atlético Mineiro – Saturday 1st April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:30 PM (GMT)
Final 2nd leg
Atlético Mineiro V América Mineiro – Saturday 8th April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:30 PM (GMT)
Campeonato Carioca
Fluminense will be hoping to win back-to-back Carioca titles for the first time since 1985.
Last season, Flu enjoyed a 3-1 aggregate victory in the final, with all goals coming from German Cano.
Flamengo will be eager to win a record 38th state title.
Vítor Pereira has only been in charge since January and has featured in two finals, losing both the Recopa Sudamericana and Supercopa do Brasil, as well as, suffering a shock early exit in the Fifa Club World Cup.
This is the third year in a row that the sides have competed in the Campeonato Carioca final.
Final 1st leg
Flamengo V Fluminense – Sunday 2nd April 2023 – KICK OFF 00:30 AM (GMT)
Final 2nd leg
Fluminense V Flamengo – Sunday 9th April 2023 – KICK OFF 22:00 PM (GMT)
Campeonato Gaúcho
In 1972, Caxias do Sul and Grêmio made history when they played the first game on colour TV in Brazil.
Caxias will lift only their second-ever Gaúcho title here with a win, their solo win came back in 2000, where they enjoyed a 3-0 aggregate victory over Grêmio.
A victory for Grêmio would see them lift a 42nd state title, in what would be their sixth straight triumph.
Final 1st leg
Caxias do Sul V Grêmio – Saturday 1st April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:30 PM (GMT)
Final 2nd leg
Grêmio V Caxias do Sul – Saturday 8th April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:30 PM (GMT)
Campeonato Paulista
Água Santa narrowly avoided relegation to the second tier of the Sao Paulo state championship in 2022.
This will be their first appearance in the Paulista state championship final.
Palmeiras will be hoping to secure a 25th State Championship title. If they win here it would be the first time since 1994 that Palmeiras have won back-to-back titles.
Final 1st leg
Água Santa V Palmeiras – Sunday 2nd April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:00 PM (GMT)
Final 2nd leg
Palmeiras V Água Santa – Sunday 9th April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:00 PM (GMT)
Campeonato Tocantinense
Tocantinópolis will be out to lift their third state title in a row, if they do so, it would be their seventh title.
Capital are playing in their first-ever Tocantinense final. Last season they finished third in the competition.
Capital were only formed in 2012.
Final 1st leg
Capital V Tocantinópolis – Sunday 2nd April 2023 – KICK OFF 20:00 PM (GMT)
Final 2nd leg
Tocantinópolis V Capital – Sunday 9th April 2023 – KICK OFF 19:30 PM (GMT)