Fans create a breathtaking atmosphere at the airport ahead of the most important match in the club's history

Status: 26/09/2023, 17:58 p.m.

By: Johannes Skiba

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Fortaleza is in the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana for the first time and is impressively bid farewell by his fans at the airport.

Fortaleza – Brazilian football club Fortaleza Esporte Clube is not one of the best-known and strongest clubs in the country of the five-time world champions. In the recent past, however, the club has shown an impressive development, which will reach its peak in the night from Tuesday (26 October) to Wednesday (27 October). Then, at 2:30 a.m., Fortaleza will play against the Corinthians from São Paulo in the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana, the equivalent of the Europa League. The supporters of the team from northeastern Brazil ensured an unforgettable farewell to their team at Pinto Martins Airport.

The most important match in the club's history

Just six years ago, Fortaleza was playing in the third-tier Série C. After promotion to the 2nd Liga Série B, the club from the state of Ceará even managed to march through to the Brazilian top flight in 2018. The return after twelve years unleashed some forces. In 2021, Argentine coach Juan Pablo Voyvoda even finished fourth. Last season, the club played in the Copa Libertadores, the highest South American club competition, for the first time.

In addition to the good and modern football, the fans of Fortaleza were already convincing last year with loud, melodic chants and impressive choreographies. This season, the team and the fans are now causing a stir in the Copa Sudamericana. Voyvoda's troops have won eight out of ten games on the international stage. Things are also going well in the league. The semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana are the deserved highlight of an arduous journey. Never before has the club been able to celebrate a national or even international title. Accordingly, the team was then euphorically bid farewell at the airport before what was probably the most important game in the club's history.

Will Fortaleza storm into the final of the Copa Sudamericana without stars, but with its fans?

From an elevated platform of the departure hall, the players and the coaching staff watched the spectacle. The followers of Fortaleza took every inch of the Pinot Martin and sang their well-known songs with passion. Does this farewell give the team an extra boost of motivation to actually make it to the final of the Copa Sudamericana?

The fans and winger Marinho are the big trump cards for Fortaleza in the semi-final of the Copa Sudamericana. © Montage/imago X

The task will not be easy for the Corinthians from São Paulo. There are no real stars in Fortaleza's squad. Only winger Marinho, who was named South American Footballer of the Year in 2020, stands out. Otherwise, the team is always tactically very well adjusted, is compact and often creates a goal threat with quick switching situations. The favored Corinthians are beatable. Next week there will be the second leg in the home "Castelão", where over 60,000 spectators could carry Fortaleza to the final. So the next highlight for Fortaleza is not long in coming. (jsk)