São Paulo vs Fortaleza Prediction: One of the most balanced matches of the opening round

São Paulo will enter this Brasileirão 2024 with the illusion of winning a title that has eluded the club for 15 years. The Paulistas won the Copa do Brasil last season and, this year, lifted the Supercopa do Brasil against Palmeiras, but what they want most is to be Brazilian champions. Since Pablo Vojvoda arrived at Fortaleza in 2021, the Cearenses have reached the Copa Libertadores group stage in 2022 and the Copa Sudamericana final last year. The Lion lost the final to Liga de Quito, and the dream ended most painfully. The club has ambition and heads into this Brasileirão to try to get as close as possible to the top clubs.

This year, the Tricolor Paulista sold Lucas Beraldo to PSG for 20 million euros but kept its base intact. Ferreira and Luis Gustavo were the most significant signings, but there was a change in the team's management. Dorival Jr. left for the Brazilian national, and Thiago Carpini, who came from Juventude, took his place. The young coach won the Supercopa do Brasil, but elimination in the quarter-finals of the Paulistão caused discontent among the fans. In the Copa Libertadores, after losing in Argentina to Talleres in the first leg, São Paulo beat Cobresal 2-0 at home, but both goals came very close to the end. The Tricolor must get off to a good start in Serie A because, in Brazil, coaches don't have a margin for error, and fans don't have much patience.

The Lion of Pici lost the Campeonato Cearense final to Ceará on penalties, which was surprising. However, things are going well in the Copa Sudamericana, and Fortaleza leads its group ahead of Boca Juniors. This week, Vojvoda's team won 5-0 at home against Nacional Potosí from Bolivia. The team is calm and confident about taking on São Paulo. Last year, Fortaleza won 2-1 at the Morumbi and will be keen to pick up points again.

It's not easy to predict what will happen in this match. Last year, Fortaleza finished in 10th place, one position above São Paulo. The most logical bet would be for the home team to win, but I will bet on a Double Chance in favor of the visitors. Pressure is starting to build around the Tricolor Paulista, and last season, the Cearenses surprised the Morumbi, a game the Paulistas don't want to remember.