The World’s Most Interesting League

By: Bruno Romani | October 22nd, 2008

With 8 matches left for the end of the season, there’s only one thing clear about Campeonato Brasileiro. This year’s tournament is the most difficult of history. 5 clubs from 4 major Brazilian cities fight for the title. Grêmio, Cruzeiro, Palmeiras, São Paulo and Flamengo (all winners of Copa Libertadores as well) are working really hard for each point that can make the difference in December. The top of the table is the following:

Grêmio 56
Cruzeiro 55
Palmeiras 54
São Paulo 53
Flamengo 52

The weekend, full of derbies, was very beneficial for Cruzeiro and Flamengo and terrible for Grêmio. Cruzeiro took on its main rival Atleético-MG in the Belo Horizonte derby. In the year of Atlético’s 100th anniversary, the two clubs played 5 times. Cruzeiro did not lose a single one (winning 4 of them). On Sunday, the blue club had the entire first-half on its hands. The outcome was the goal by Jonathan. On the second half, Atlético improved a little bit, but its left side invited Cruzeiro for a solid victory. Guilherme from the spot gave the final numbers. Cruzeiro seats in second now, just 1 point away from Grêmio.

Grêmio, by the way, was the Santa Claus of the weekend. The leaders visited Portuguesa, who is currently fighting relegation. The first-half was decent for both clubs, but Grêmio was punished in the second-half, when Ediglê (ex-player of Grêmio’s main rival Inter) and Edno (an interesting player) scored for Portuguesa. The defeat allowed all the rivals get very close to Grêmio. I have a feeling that Grêmio has just lost the tournament.

Palmeiras and São Paulo also decreased in one point the advantage of the leaders after playing a thrilling derby in São Paulo. It was one of the best matches of the year in Brazil (this is the reason why I’m leaving the highlights below). It was fought, many goals happening, coaches going crazy, red cards. Full menu for those who like soccer. Using the counter attack, São Paulo opened a 2-0 lead in the first-half with goals by keeper Rogério Ceni from the spot and Dagoberto. In the second-half, it seemed São Paulo was going to take the victory home, when Palmeiras’ Luxemburgo sent to the match Denilson (yes, that one). He changed the match. With Kléber (ex-Dinamo Kiev and one of the best forwards in Brazil at the moment), the duo got 2 goals in two minutes (Kléber and Leandro scored) when there only 10 minutes left. The 2-2 put Palmeiras and São Paulo 2 and 3 points away from Grêmio respectively.

Finally, Flamengo beat rival Vasco in the Rio derby to get just 4 points away from Grêmio. The derby was ugly to watch. Vasco has a very poor squad, which justifies the last spot in the table. Many wrong passes and few opportunities. The result could be no different than a skinny 1-0 with a own goal of defender Jorge Luís. The situation for Vasco is so bad that yesterday ex-president Eurico Miranda gave a interview on a radio show which he threatened Roberto Dinamite, the current president. He said “if Vasco is relegated, I will finish him (Dinamite).”

With 8 matches left, there will be 5 matches involving 4 of the top 5 clubs. São Paulo is the only not playing against its rivals for the title. Palmeiras, Cruzeiro, Grêmio and Flamengo are all taking each other at some point. It will be tough and thrilling. Campeonato Brasileiro is the most interesting league happening today. It is a fact.

The other results of the weekend were:

Vitória 2 – 2 Fluminense (the ref helped the locals. Flu is in the relegation zone)
Inter 2 -1 Atlético-PR (Nilmar and Alex scored again. Atlético in the relegation zone)
Botafogo 0 – 1 Santos (Major blow for Bota. Santos got rid of the relegation ghost)
Sport 2 – 2 Naútico (The Recife derby was bad for Naútico, who is close to relegation)
Figueirense 1 – 1 Ipatinga (very little changed for both clubs)
Coritiba 1 – 1 Goiás (terrible result for the two sides as both still dream of a Libertadores spot)