3 Rounds, 2 Clubs, 1 Title

By: Bruno Romani | November 18th, 2008

3 rounds left and the fight for the title has come down to 2 clubs. São Paulo seats 2 points ahead of Grêmio. Both clubs won at home on the weekend. The first beat Figueirense 3-1 ( Borges twice and Hugo). The second defeated Coritiba 2-1 (Tcheco and own goal). São Paulo has been delivering better performances and is growing in the right moment. On the other hand, Grêmio has been putting a lot of passion and returned to the fight after giving signals that the team was in downturn. The league is getting narrower each round and the drama and thrill just builds up. Last weekend, two clubs that also fought for the title died. 5-2 was the score in the matches that took Cruzeiro and Palmeiras the hopes of lifting the trophy. Cruzeiro visited Naútico, and the home team, faced with the threat of relegation, crushed the good but young side of Cruzeiro. The defense made just too many mistakes. Palmeiras, on the other hand, played one of the key matches of the league by facing Flamengo at Maracanã. A crowded stadium plus the low morale resulted from the last weekend’s defeat at home against Grêmio turned Palmeiras into a vulnerable prey. Luxemburgo showed in his body what Palmeiras fans think of this. On top of that, Flamengo’s midfielders Ibson and Kléberson (great duo. Too bad sometimes they look sleepy) were on fire. Ibson scored 3 goals, one with his heel. Palmeiras now is even out of the Libertadores zone, losing place for Flamengo.

In the bottom down, things are even more uncertain. Ipatinga gave signs it still alive by beating Sport 3-0.

Fluminense resurrected by beating Portuguesa 3-1 in inspired day of its young talents. Maicon was the name of the match. Portuguesa, on the other hand, is on the way down.

Atlético-PR and Santos got some room after beating respectively Vitória 2-1 and the reserve side of Inter 1-0. The last club to join the relegation zone is Vasco after visiting Atlético-MG and losing 4-1. Their defense is just too bad.

The only match where there was nothing at stakes was Goiás and Botafogo. The home team beat Bota 3-1 with a hat-trick by Paulo Baier, aka Mister Goiás (he only plays well for this club and his connection to the image of the club is huge). Botafogo continues to get the results of not paying the salaries of their players on time. And by the way, guess who got a red card again? André Luís!

What each match of the next round is for:

Vasco- São Paulo (Relegation-Title)
Vitória – Grêmio (Nothing-Title)
Figueirense – Naútico (Relegation-Relegation)
Botafogo – Atlético-PR (Nothing-Relegation)
Portuguesa – Goiás (Relegation – Nothing)
Coritiba – Santos (Nothing-Relegation)
Cruzeiro – Flamengo ( Libertadores – Title)
Internacional – Fluminense (Nothing – Relegation)
Sport – Atlético-MG (Only match with nothing at stake)
Palmeiras – Ipatinga (Libertadores – Relegation)