Grêmio is the Winter Champion of Campeonato Brasileiro!

By: Bruno Romani | August 11th, 2008

It was easier than Grêmio expected. The from Porto Alegre finished the first-half of the league in first, 5 points ahead of Cruzeiro. The symbolic title of winter champions came in a spectacular 4-0 victory against the fragile side of Atlético-MG. Despite the big amount of goals, Grêmio has been very successful in the defense. The club allowed only 12 goals in 19 matches. Goalie Victor has been a great name to remember. If Grêmio follows the tradition, it will win the entire league. Since 2003, the winner of the first-half ended up lifting the trophy at the end of the season. Grêmio ended with 41 points.

Not only Grêmio is doing what is supposed to, but also the two clubs following the club in the table, Cruzeiro and Palmeiras, failed on the weekend. This made things even easier for Grêmio. Cruzeiro visited Portuguesa and watched the club from São Paulo come back and win 2-1. Palmeiras had a more difficult task. On Sunday, the club visited Botafogo. Keeper Marcos saved the club in many occasions, but with 10 minutes left Zé Carlos scored. Since coach Ney Franco started heading Botafogo, the club had an impressive rise. After winning 20 out of 27 points, the club from Rio now is aiming at the top 4.

The fight for relegation remains as interesting. With the first-half of the tournament over, a lot of traditional clubs found themselves in difficult situations. Vasco, Santos and Fluminense, 3 of the biggest Brazilian clubs, ended in the relegation zone. The trauma of Fluminense for losing the Libertadores remains. On Sunday, the club managed to lose against Ipatinga, last club in the table and the only club with the relegation ticket granted since day 1. The 2-1 caused the firing of coach Renato Gaúcho. He will be replaced by Cuca, who was with Santos and was fired last week due to poor results (Now, I ask you: Does it make sense to bring a coach who left his last club in the relegation zone, too? Brazilian officials, who can understand them…).

The situation of Santos remains very serious. On Sunday, the club played against Naútico, a direct rival in the struggle against relegation, and lost 1-0. It was another poor performance, and now rumors say that Renato Gaúcho will coach Santos. I’ve been saying for some time that I saw Gaúcho with Vasco. And I think it’s a matter of time. Vasco had another humiliating defeat on Sunday. The club visited Vitória and did not resist the surprising home club. 5-0. defender Jorge henrique says his ashamed. Forward Leando Amaral is injured (amazing how players get injured when a club is not doing well).

Vitória stayed in 5th. This is so because São Paulo beat Goiás at home 2-1.

With 32 points, Coritiba is another club to leave second division to go straight to a great campaign in the following year. Forward Keirrisson scored another 2 and Coritiba beat Sport with 3-0.

Flamengo, who was on the top for most of the first-half of the league, put an end to a series of 7 matches in row without victory. The club had a poor performance, but made enough to beat Atlético-PR 1-0, goal by Janilton It was the worst participation of Atlético-PR in the history in the first-half of the league. This caused coach Roberto Fernandez to be fired. Mario Sérgio was hired.

Internacional ended the first-half with another disappointing result, despite the debut of midfield Daniel Carvalho. 1-1 against Figueirense.