RED, WHITE, BLACK: SAO PAULO BRAZILIAN CHAMPION AGAIN

By: Bruno Romani | October 31st, 2007

There is a club in Brazil whose fans are always smiling. And they smile because they know their club is very organized. Because this club offers all the means for its players to develop their job. These fans smile, chant and celebrate because they know all the mentioned reasons turn into titles. With 4 rounds still to go, São Paulo did it again. It took home another Campeonato Brasileiro, its second in a row.

The tricolor received América-RN, the last club in the table, and needed a simple draw to lift the 5th Campeonato Brasileiro of its history. But on the night the club was going to become the biggest winner of the Brazilian league, São Paulo did it better. Easily, the locals built a 3-0, with goals by midfielder Hernanes, one of the new talents of the league, defender Miranda and forward Dagoberto.

The three men were important, but were not alone in the successful campaign. The man with the number 1 is Rogério Ceni, arguably the most important player of the club’s history. Breno, 17 year old defender who may show up at Real Madrid very soon, and defenders Alex Silva and André Dias created a wall. Nobody was able two core 2 goals against São Paulo in the same match. Jorge Wagner, veteran Júnior and polemic Richarlysson made the left portion of the field a dizzy experience for rivals, given how quickly they change positions. Leandro, Borges, Aloísio. Not brilliant forwards but efficient. São Paulo had the best group of players and the title is deserved.

Now, São Paulo joins the club of teams that won 2 Brasileiros in a row along with Palmeiras (72/73 and 93/94), Inter (75/76), Flamengo (82/83) and Corinthians (98/99). The entire campaign of coach Muricy Ramalho was brilliant. The club lost only 5 matches, allowed 13 goals in 34 matches (the second best defense of the history of the Campeonato Brasileiro). Playing away, São Paulo lost only twice.

The fans are smiling. Not because of what just happened, but because they know in 2008 the club has very good chances spreading red, white and black again all over Brazil.