Red and black squad: check the balance of each Vitória position in 2024

The year 2024 was a long one for Vitória, but after a tiring season, Leão fans end the year with a positive feeling. Starting the season with the base that won Series B, the red and black starting team was modified throughout the competitions and new players gained prominence. See the balance of each team position:

A starter in the Series B title campaign in 2023, Lucas Arcanjo continued as the name of the project upon his return to the elite. A graduate of Leão’s youth teams, Arcanjo took to the field 50 times during the year, which represents 82% of the games played by Vitória. Despite fluctuating, he finished the season once again with importance for the team.

The most used substitute in the position was Muriel, who had the mission of replacing Arcanjo in 10 games during the year. One of them, in fact, was the first classic Ba-Vi. On that occasion, the red-black team won 3-2 at Barradão. Despite having his signing criticized, he didn’t do any harm while he was on the field.

Maycon Cleiton only played in the defeat to Juazeirense, in the Copa do Nordeste. At the time, Vitória was beaten away from home: 2-0. The goalkeeper left Leão for Ceará during the season.

With the arrival of Carpini, Willlean Lepo took the position for himself and became the right-back with the most appearances for Leão in this year’s Brazilian Championship. There were 28 matches played with the red and black shirt, and it was necessary to form the defense at times during the competition.

With Lepo injured, Paraguayan Raúl Cáceres took advantage of the opportunity and established himself as the sector’s starter. The player evolved with the team and contributed three assists in the championship, becoming the right-back with the most direct participation in the team’s goals in the tournament.

On the other hand, the left side only had two players competing. In the first half, PK took over the starting line-up and was important for Vitória during the period. However, injuries and drops in performance gave Lucas Esteves space to occupy the position and never leave.

The young 24-year-old full-back was one of Leão’s most consistent defensive players in Serie A, as well as contributing with one goal and four assists in the competition.

Wagner Leonardo and Camutanga are the defense duo most celebrated by red-black fans in recent years. Just like the Serie B base, they started the season on a high, but the injury to number 13 shook Leão’s defense. Wagner became captain and the team’s most regular player during the year.

In place of Camutanga, Bruno Uvini, Reynaldo and an improvised Caio Vinícius tried to substitute, but were unsuccessful. The defense only stabilized again with the arrival of Neris and Edu. The two fit into the team and ended the year on a high note.

Considered starters due to their performance in Series B last year, Rodrigo Andrade and Dudu started the season as the right names in Vitória’s lineup led by Léo Condé. The two remained important in the conquest of Baianão, but soon lost space in Série A of the Brazilian Championship with the arrival of Carpini.

Without the duo, the current coach instituted a scheme with three midfielders for much of the competition. Luan Santos, Filipe Machado, Ricardo Ryller and Willian Oliveira took turns in the roles. Everyone helped the Lion, each with their own characteristics. Willian even became the top scorer in Series A in the 10th round. At the time, the midfielder had five goals in the competition.

Among the midfielders, unanimous. Matheuzinho was the owner of the position. Despite being a starter the previous year, it was in the current season that the player reached his peak, being a key player in the recovery campaign in Serie A. Considering the entire year, he scored six goals and 10 assists.

Hired under the expectations of the fans, midfielder Jean Mota was unable to play with the red-black shirt and ended the season without even being used by Thiago Carpini. When Matheuzinho couldn’t play, Pablo occupied the position or the system was modified.

Six names alternated between the two wings in 2024: Osvaldo, Everaldo, Gustavo Mosquito, Carlos Eduardo, Zé Hugo and Matheus Gonçalves. Of these, only the last one was not important in the first division.

Zé Hugo and Mosquito ended the season as important for the campaign, but were unable to consolidate themselves as absolute starters. The two wingers had three direct participation in goals, while Osvaldo, Everaldo and Carlos Eduardo had two.

This year, it was Osvaldo who was most important for Leão. The 37-year-old striker was responsible for scoring eight goals and contributing one assist. Despite his age, the player’s speed and goals scored in classics were essential for Vitória. Osvaldo, however, had to say goodbye to the season early after being diagnosed with pulmonary thromboembolism.

Hired at the beginning of the season to be the “goal man”, Alerrandro lived up to expectations throughout the year. There were 28 direct participations in goals in the season, 21 of which were scored and seven were assists. The player contributed in all the competitions that Vitória played in the season. Despite the fast start to Series A, he finished the tournament as top scorer.

With the fluctuation and weight of being the club’s most expensive signing of the year, Janderson alternated between winger and center forward and was the second most involved in goals in the position. The number 39 scored three times and provided a goal in the first division. Iury Castilho, Luiz Adriano and Caio Dantas occupied the position of “shirt nine”, but were not missed.