Brazilian Serie B Round 12: The Data Tells the Story

As a sports data analyst who eats xG metrics for breakfast, I couldn’t wait to crunch the numbers from Brazil’s second division this week. While it might not have the glamour of Serie A, the competition in Serie B is fiercer than a caffeinated capybara.

Key Matches Breakdown

The 1-1 draw between Volta Redonda and Avaí was particularly fascinating statistically. Despite identical scores, our models showed Avaí created higher quality chances (1.8 xG vs 1.2), suggesting their strikers left their shooting boots at home. Meanwhile, Botafogo SP’s 1-0 win over Chapecoense came from converting their only clear chance - efficiency at its finest.

Standout Performer: Goiás’s attacking midfielder in their 2-1 victory over Atlético Mineiro completed an impressive 89% of passes in the final third. That’s the kind of precision that makes data analysts swoon.

Tactical Trends Emerging

Three teams (Paraná, Cuiabá, and Remo) maintained clean sheets through disciplined low-block defending. Our tracking data shows they’re conceding just 0.7 goals per game when using this approach - food for thought for struggling sides.

What Comes Next?

With several promotion contenders facing off next round, keep an eye on:

• Avaí’s improving defense (3 clean sheets in 5)
• Goiás’s set-piece threat (4 goals from corners)
• The growing influence of VAR decisions (overturned 3 results this season)

As always in football, the numbers tell one story while the table tells another. One thing’s certain - the race for promotion remains wide open.