Campeonato Brasileiro to be settled on the final day: four teams still in with a chance
November 29, 2009 at 23:57 9 comments
Flamengo on top for the first time this season
Flamengo, Internacional, Palmeiras or São Paulo could take Brazil’s national championship when it comes to an end next weekend. Fla now lead the way but with only two points separating the top four, it’s anybody’s guess where the title will end up.
On Sunday, goals from Zé Roberto and Léo Moura against Corinthians in the estádio Brinco de Ouro in Campinas left Flamengo within a hair’s-breadth of winning the Brasileiro for the first time since 1992. In the final round, Fla take on Grêmio in the Maracanã needing a victory to guarantee the title.
Internacional moved to 2nd after a 2-1 win at already-relegated Sport Recife. Their final game sees Inter face Santo André in the Beira-Rio. Inter will be crowned champions on numbers of wins if they win and Flamengo fail to beat Grêmio. Santo André are facing the drop. They need to win and hope Coritiba and Botafogo mess up.
Palmeiras are 3rd following their 3-1 win vs Atlético Mineiro. Next Sunday finds the former leaders in Rio as they take on relegation-threatened Botafogo. To take the title, the Greens must win and hope Flamengo and Inter don’t take maximum points.
São Paulo started the day as leaders but a surprise 4-2 loss away at Goiás saw them crash to 4th. The current champions are at home to Sport and must beat the Recife side by at least three clears goals and pray that none of the three teams above them win.
Cruzeiro have a chance of making the Libertadores places if they win in the Vila Belmiro against Santos and either São Paulo or Palmeiras lose their games.
At the bottom, Fluminense look like pulling off a miracle in their fight to avoid the drop. A draw at Coritiba will keep them afloat. The result will also mean that Coritiba stay in the top flight if Botafogo lose to Palmeiras. Otherwise, Coritiba will have to win.
Náutico were beaten 5-3 by Santo André and joined Sport in Série B.
Whatever happens on December 6th it’s sure to make for a riveting finale. All the games should kick off at 17:00 local time but delays are a near certainty.
See the Campeonato Brasileiro round 37 table and all the results here
See all the round’s goals here
Entry filed under: Campeonato Brasileiro 2009. Tags: Brazilian football, Campeonato Brasiliero round 37 2009, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Internacional, Palmeiras, São Paulo.
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Pitaco do gringo's Brazilian football site 
1. Alexis | November 30, 2009 at 22:36
simply the best league in the world….
2. darren | December 1, 2009 at 15:43
is there any way i can get to watch the final days games on the 6th? i am in england and we don’t get coverage…
FLAMENGO………………………………..LIVERPOOL
3. pitacodogringo | December 1, 2009 at 19:12
Darren
you can see the game on the net almost certainly. we’re doing the Flamengo x Grêmio game on Sunday – kick off 17:00 here in Brazil (19:00 London). there are a couple of games on Saturday but they have no relevance to the championship (Náutico x Avaí & Atlético Mineiro x Corinthians)
try these sites: http://livevideo.betfair.com/ http://www.bet365.com http://www.ladbrokes.com/ http://www.omnisport.tv/page/Home/0,,12637,00.html (this one you need to pay for)
4. darren | December 2, 2009 at 20:25
thanks man!
5. bobbygee | December 1, 2009 at 17:29
I love your work on Globo TV. My wife and I watch you all the time. My wife is Brasilian. She is Carioca Flamemnguista.
6. pitacodogringo | December 1, 2009 at 19:01
thanks Bobby
you’re wife will be pleased to know that we’re doing the Flamengo x Grêmio game on Sunday – wonder if Fla will fluff their lines as they did against Goiás? surely not!? haha
7. Chris | December 1, 2009 at 19:36
Flamengo surely can’t blow it now. Gremio have the worst away record in the league, they are rumoured to be putting out a weakened team and they’ll be in big trouble with their fans if they allow Internacional to snatch it.
All I have to do now is to try and get a ticket from somewhere.
I can’t remember a more exciting competition at both the top and the bottom than this year’s Brasileiro.
Going to the SulAmericana final tomorrow with Flu having to make up a 4 goal deficit. Unlikely, but this season just about anything seems possible.
8. pitacodogringo | December 1, 2009 at 19:40
Chris
i think it’s one of the best championships ever – you couldn’t ask for anything me from a final day (may use that line on Sunday haha) –
why don’t you just hide in the Maracanã for a few days? haha some good news for you – Grêmio have just sent back 5000 tickets!
9. Martin | December 2, 2009 at 01:35
This is a great finish to the season but is Flamengo’s title to lose and they’ll close at home against Gremio who do not travel well as Chris pointed out. Flamengo are catching some luck with the schedule, playing a less than motivated Corinthians not wanting to help out great rivals Sao Paulo and now closing the season against Gremio who will not want to help their main rivals Internacional.
Flamengo won this past Sunday without Adriano who burned himself on Friday in a home accident. Even when playing well and apparently minding his business he seems to attract problems like a magnet! But Flamengo have been the best team in the 2nd half of the season so it is hard to take away merit from them if they do end up winning the championship. I will be happy for Andrade, who I always liked as a player, if they do end up as champions. He’s doing a great job in his first extended time as the club’s coach.
Last year it was Sao Paulo on the hot streak as they went on to win the title. This year they are stumbling and it is their usually solid defense which has been letting them down.
pitacodogringo, no mention of Diego Souza’s great midfield volleyed goal for Palmeiras last Sunday? And Cleiton Xavier’s return marked with a goal. I get this feeling if Cleiton Xavier had not been injured this past month, we’d be talking about Palmeiras getting ready to wrap up the championship.