São Paulo and Palmeiras get off to poor starts

The 2008 campeonato Brasileiro may have kicked off this weekend but some of the title favourites had their minds on upcoming games in either the Libertadores or the Copa do Brasil and rested key players.

Current champions, São Paulo lost an opener in the estádio Morumbi for the first time in 37 years. Just as they had done almost four decades ago, it was Grêmio that inflicted the defeat. The only goal came when centreback, Pereira, was left unmarked to head home early in the second period.

Less than 8000 turned up to see Muricy Ramalho’s side labour without a single creative player in the first half. Things improved with the introduction of Hernanes and Sérgio Mota but São Paulo were reduced to long-ball tactics to try to pick out centreback Alex Silva who had been thrown forward. Anymore performances like this and São Paulo will be hard-pushed to come anywhere near to retaining their title.

São Paulo’s opponents in the Libertadores, Fluminense, also rested players and could only manage a scoreless draw at Atlético Mineiro.

Santos take on Mexico’s América midweek and they put out a second-string outfit against Flamengo. The result: a 3×1 defeat in the Maracanã.

A weakened Internacional had the Copa do Brasil to think of but they were still too good for Vasco in Porto Alegre.

The surprise of the weekend came in a packed estádio Couto Pereira where newly-promoted Coritiba saw off Palmeiras 2×0. With the score at 0×0, Coritiba’s hopes took a severe knock late on in the first period when young starlet, Keirrison, was replaced following a hamstring injury. Another youth product, Hugo, came on and formed an immediate understanding with debut boy, Michael. The substitution proved to be the turning point and the pair went on to get Coritiba’s goals. Watch the best moments here.

Another new team, Portuguesa, were involved in the highest scoring match of the day. An incredible ten goals went in the estádio Canindé in the game against Figueirense. See them here.

Campeonato Brasileiro round 1 results 

 

10/05/2008	Náutico	2 X 1	Goiás
10/05/2008	São Paulo	0 X 1	Grêmio
10/05/2008	Vitória	0 X 2	Cruzeiro
11/05/2008	Ipatinga	0 X 1	Atlético-PR
11/05/2008	Botafogo	2 X 0	Sport
11/05/2008	Internacional	1 X 0	Vasco
11/05/2008	Coritiba	2 X 0	Palmeiras
11/05/2008	Portuguesa	5 X 5	Figueirense
11/05/2008	Flamengo	3 X 1	Santos
11/05/2008	Atlético-MG	0 X 0	Fluminense

 

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