http://brazil.theoffside.com Brazilian Football League Blog Mon, 12 May 2008 01:35:00 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Campeonato Brasileiro is back. 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 ... http://brazil.theoffside.com/tournaments/5-5-draw-welcome-back-campeonato-brasileiro.html Still with the state championships echoing and Copa do Brasil and Libertadores driving more attention, Campeonato Brasileiro starts this weekend. And this blog cannot help itself and post a few predictions. Last year worked pretty well.  The title won't fall outside these 6 and a Libertadores spots belong to all of them: Inter: ... http://brazil.theoffside.com/tournaments/quick-predictions-for-campeonato-brasileiro.html Before becoming the coach of Sout Africa, Joel Santana left Flamengo with a title. And it is historical. 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 ... http://brazil.theoffside.com/tournaments/joel-santana-and-obina-take-flamengo-to-the-title.html In Minas, Marcelo Moreno scored again and Cruzeiro did not much to win the title. In Parana, Coritiba took the title, even losing 2-1. http://brazil.theoffside.com/tournaments/cruzeiro-takes-the-title-in-minas.html If anyone expected a surprise in Rio Grande do Sul, Internacional made it clear that it is one of the best clubs in Brazil nowadays. 8-1, with all their talents in an inspired afternoon. Fernandão got a hat-trick. Alex, the best player from Inter in 08, scored twice. Nilmar and ... http://brazil.theoffside.com/tournaments/inter-scores-8-times-to-win-the-state-championship.html After 9 years, 1 relegation, lots of disappointment and mediocre campaigns, Palmeiras is big again. The green club did the expected and had no difficulties in beating 5-0 Ponte Preta at Palestra Italia. This is the third state championship title in a row for coach Vanderley Luxemburgo. For Palmeiras, this ... http://brazil.theoffside.com/tournaments/palmeiras-wins-the-first-title-of-the-century-in-sp.html Copa do Brasil is a great tournament for putting together clubs of various divisions. And it's not unusual to see the underdogs reaching high stages in the cup. This year's tournament already has its biggest surprise: Corinthians from Alagoas. The club reached the quarter-finals after losing 3-1 against Juventude, state ... http://brazil.theoffside.com/tournaments/the-underdogs-in-copa-do-brasil.html Brazil is looking pretty good in the Copa Libertadores. In the past week, the first-leg of the round of 16 was played, and all the results make me believe that in the quarter-finals we will see 5 Brazilian clubs, 4 clashing against each other. The one looking the best is Flamengo. ... http://brazil.theoffside.com/tournaments/brazil-looks-pretty-good-in-the-copa-libertadores.html I don’t know to what extent doing well in the state championships can be good for clubs. Palmeiras is the virtual champion in São Paulo and last night fought for a spot in the quarter-finals of Copa do Brasil. The green team has been getting a lot of attention from ... http://brazil.theoffside.com/tournaments/copa-do-brasil-08-palmeiras-humilated-corinthians-moves-on.html I don't even know how to start this one. 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 ... http://brazil.theoffside.com/players/ronaldo-caught-with-travestites-oh-no.html