The headline of the weekend could’ve been the defeat at home of current champs São Paulo against Grêmio, 1-0. Coach Celso Roth saved his head this time. But this is not the big news.

Goalie Nei, from Vitória, could’ve been the name of the weekend, but Cruzeiro did not welcome back well the club from Bahia and won 2-0. But not big enough.

The thrilling return of Coritiba to série A by defeating Palmeiras, the club of the moment, by 2-0 could’ve been the story of the weekend. Like the victory of Flamengo over the reserves of Santos, 3-1.

The defeat of Ipatinga in its first match for série A ever had some potential for headlines. But it will heard very little.

Inter 1 – 0 Vasco, Botafogo 2 – 0 Sport, Naútico 2 – 1 Goiás and Atlético-MG 0 – 0 Fluminense are results way too normal for making great headlines.

The match of the weekend involved Portuguesa in its return to first division after 6 years and Figueirense. Marco Aurélio opened the score for Portuguesa, who played at home, with 4 minutes. Rodrigo Fabri, playing against the club who revealed him to the world, tied for the visitors with 37 minutes. 7 minutes later, right-back Patrício scored again for the locals. 2-1.

In the second-half, another right-back, this time the one from Figueirense, tied the match again from a free-kick. Between the 11th and the 15th marks, Portuguesa came up with an avalanche of goals and scored 3 times. Bruno Rodrigo, Diogo and Christian made this debut almost perfect. 5-2 seemed to have ended the match. Not even the goal of Felipe Santos for Figueira seemed to threat the victory.

However, there are thing that only happen to Portuguesa. With 1 minute left, Bruno Santos scored again for the visitors. And, Felipe Santos tied the match with 2 minutes into the stoppage time. 5-5.

Viva o Campeonato Brasileiro!

 The title won’t fall outside these 6 and a Libertadores spots belong to all of them:

Inter: Fernandao, Nilmar, Guinazu and Alex, one of the best Brazilian players in the season. Need more than that? 
Palmeiras: Huge investments, great players and a respectable coach.
Sao Paulo: Not the best football of the season, but the club and especially its coach love a long league.
Flamengo: Good line-up and a crowd that makes the difference. Need to overcome the Libertadores tragedy.
Cruzeiro: Like Flamengo, it needs to forget Libertadores. And some of their players are on top shape.
Fluminense: Great line-up.

6th to 10th:
Santos, Vasco, Sport, Botafogo, Gremio

11th to 15th:

Coritiba, Atletico-MG, Atletico-PR, Figueirense

Relegation:

Ipatinga: Too young and growing up is not easy.
Portuguesa: Mediocre campaign in the state championship. Relies entirely on forward Diogo.
Goias: Like last year, the club remains fragile and counting on veterans, like Paulo Baier.
Vitoria: Returns to serie A are always painful
Nautico: Small investments, and lost a few key players, like Acosta, from last year.

The first-half of the final in Rio was excellent. With a loss in the first match, Botafogo attacked Flamengo from minute one. Flamengo waited for Botafogo on its field and tried to use the counter-attacks as its main weapon. In one of these counter attacks, Ibson missed a great opportunity.

Botafogo kept attacking and scored in a big blunder of keepr Bruno, who was splaying his 100th match at Flamengo. Lúcio Flávio tried to cross the ball from a free-kick. The ball bounced before reaching the goal and Bruno, badly positioned let it in. Flamengo insisted and had one chance with Juan who was stopped by the youngster keeper Renan.

The second-half started and Joel Santa sent Diego Tardelli and Obina to the pitch. With 4 minutes into the match, Obina, showing once more that his the enlighten one, tied with a header. Flamengo fans love him. And he always scores in important moments.

The match progressed in a very fashion manner. Jorge Henrique got a beautiful long range and Bruno defended even more beautifully. In the counter-attack, Diego Tardelli left two defenders behind and stopped in a good save by Renan. 4 minutes later, Obina found Marcinho who hit the post.

With 31 minutes, Botafogo lost control and Renato Silva was ejected. Two minutes later, Obina missed the goal of the title. With 37, the other man chosen by Joel scored the goal of the title. Diego Tardelli, the man who scored the goal of the title of the first-half against Botafogo, scored again after a beautiful play by Juan. Fans went crazy. They chanted “bicampeão” and teased Botafogo with songs making reference to how the club cries when it loses.

In the last minute, Diego Tardelli crossed and Obina scored the goal of the 30th state title of Flamengo. Joel leaves in glory. Obina becomes even more a cult player!

In Parana, Coritiba took the title, even losing 2-1.

Two goals happen in the first-half: one own-goal and one by Alex Mineiro, the top striker of the championship. The match was over. Ponte gave up.

Another three in the second-half: Valdivia and Alex Mineiro with another two completed the hat-trick.

The partnership between Palmeiras and the Sports Marketing company Traffic has already proved to be fruitful.

The one looking the best is Flamengo. The rubro-negro visited America in Mexico and thrashed the locals with a 4-2. Next week, the rubro-begro can even lose 2-0. Great job by Joel Santana, who also may take the state championship title this weekend.

The oher club from Rio, Fluminense, counted with mistakes of different goalies in the match against Atletico Nacional in Colombia. In the first half, the goalie made a penalty, taken by Thiago Neves, and was ejected from the match. His replacement had a blunder in a shot by Conca when the match was 1-1. The 2-1 gives the Flu the advantage of even losing 1-0 in the second-leg.

Santos received Cucuta in Brazil and jumped ahead with a 2-0. Forward Lima, who was debuting, opened the score for the locals. Santos now can even lose by a goal difference.

Sao Paulo visited Nacional and in a very ugly match got a 0-0. A simple victory at home will grant Sao Paulo on the next stage.

Finally, Cruzeiro lost in Argentina against Boca 2-1. This is excellent. A simple 1-0 will take the blue team to the next round.

If this 5 qualify, as it seems they will, we will see on the quarter finals a clash between Paulistas and Cariocas. Fluminense x Sao Paulo and Flamengo x Santos. Can we get more thrill than that?  

Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72D5HOaAEPM

On the other hand, Corinthians played in old-school fashion against Goiás last night. Nobody believed the “timão” could reverse the 3-1 of the first leg. 5o thousand fans showed up, and the first-half ended with a 3-0. The final score was 4-0, and surprisingly Corinthians is in the quarter-finals of Copa do Brasil. Not bad for who just got relegated.

Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb6d6gfjZT8

This is what the quarter finals look like:

Corinthians x São Caetano
Vasco x Corinthians-AL
Internacional x Sport
Atlético-MG x Botafogo

Ronaldo, yes - that one, is being accused by the travestite André Luis Ribeiro, AKA Andréa Albertine, for not paying for his/her services. The travestite went to the police, where later Ronaldo was invited to give his version of the happenings. He says he/she is just trying to get his money.

According to Andre’s version, the forward took her to a motel after confusing her with a prostitute. At the hotel, he asked for another 2 prostitutes. After realizing where he was getting into( and here I ask you to imagine his face after touching her special package), he dismissed them and gave a thousand reais each. Andre asked for 50 thousand. He/she showed at the police station with documents that belong to Ronaldo and images of the forward with them.

great way to recover a injured knee! Look at his/her pics and tell me if this looks like at all like an woman. And if does, what a down for someone who is known for hot wives and girfriends: