Futebol Brasileiro 2016

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

And then there was one. Grêmio's Roger Machado could not withstand a 3-0 defeat at Ponte Preta which means that Dorival Junior of Santos is now the only Série A manager appointed before 2016. He celebrated with a 1-0 win at Botafogo but had a shock in the final minute when a spectacular overhead kick from Botafogo's keeper Sidão (Big Sid) almost produced an equaliser.

Steveeeee will be keen to keep up with the career of Argel Fucks. He's now turned up at Vitória (his fourth job of the season) and coincidentally they were away at his previous employers Inter. A 1-0 win lifted them out of and put Inter back into the relegation zone.

But of course you'll want to hear about the biggest match of the season with Flamengo travelling to Palmeiras with their away support banned due to trouble in their previous match. It was quite an exciting game with 10 man Flamengo taking the lead through Alan Patrick seconds after he came on as sub but being denied three points and top place by a late equaliser from - yes, you guessed it - Gabriel Jesus.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

Quick round-up of the weekend games as it's Copa do Brasil, and Sul-Americana games tonight and I can barely keep up!

Palmeiras, Flamengo and Santos all won and they, along with Atlético who drew the clássico with Cruzeiro are pulling away from the rest of the Libertadores contenders.

The excruciatingly bad season of Internacional continues. They contrived to lose to a last minute goal at whipping boys América Mineiro and remain in the bottom four. The only slight consolation for them is that most of the teams around them also lost - América are too far behind to worry about - so they didn't actually lose much ground on their relegation rivals.

Another week, another manager. This time Cristóvão Borges has gone from Corinthians after 18 games. He was really set an impossible task with Tite's team being sold as Corinthians try to achieve some financial stability.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

Another late win for Flamengo, this time against Cruzeiro coming from a goal with two late strikes from Guerrero and Mancuello in the 83rd and 88th minutes for their 6th win in 7 games. They remain on the heels of Palmeiras who had a much more routine 2-1 win against Coritiba.

Great credit is due to manager Zé Ricardo who has built a united, if limited squad who never know when they are beaten and the arrival of Diego has added some much-needed quality to midfield. And this has been achieved without playing a single home game in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Yesterday's win was in Acariacica in the neighbouring state of Espirito Santo.

Cruzeiro's defeat puts them back in the relegation zone along with Internacional who lost again, this time at Atlético-MG. Wins for relegation rivals Sport, Figueirense and Vitória made it a terrible weekend for them and an unthinkable first-ever relegation is now a realistic prospect.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

A strange feel to the weekend as Sunday's games were moved to Saturday due to local elections. Flamingo will have been disappointed with a 0-0 draw at São Paulo as this allowed Palmeiras to open up a three point lead on Monday night after winning 3-2 at Santa Cruz. They didn't play particularly well but a lovely chipped goal from Zé Roberto and a couple of good substitutions saw them through. Atlético kept in touch with a 2-1 win at Ponte Preta.

The news that the top six in Brazil will now qualify for the Libertadores may have inspired Botafogo to beat Corinthians and at the bottom, wins for Inter and Cruzeiro eased their relegation fears somewhat.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

With the top 2, Palmeiras and Flamengo, playing the bottom 2, America-MG and Santa Cruz, and getting predictably comfortable wins, there wasn't a whole lot of excitement in the Série A programme.

I was much more interested in the Série C play-off second legs and in particular the plight of Fortaleza. They have been languishing in the third tier for the last seven years and in the last three they've fallen at this final hurdle. Nevertheless, having achieved a 0-0 draw in the away leg at Juventude, hopes were high and the Castelão was packed with 64,000 fans, by far the largest attendance of the week.

And they blew it yet again. It was a thrilling game but Juventude just managed to hang on in a 1-1 draw and confirm their place in Série B along with ASA, Boa Esporte and Guaraní. These four teams go on to play for the overall Série C title.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

Only one place to start this week and that's with Fla-Flu.

With the news that Palmeiras had only drawn against Cruzeiro Flamengo knew that a win would take them to within a point of the leaders and all was going to plan with them leading 2-1. But then after 84 minutes, Gustavo Scarpa's cross was headed in by Henrique. The assistant immediately flagged for offside, only to be overruled by FIFA referee Sandro Meira Ricci who signalled a goal.

At this point it all kicked off, with the ref being surrounded by players from both sides and the military police desperately trying to protect him. After 13 minutes, Ricci finally reversed his decision and the offside was given.

Two questions here. Firstly, what was Ricci doing overruling his assistant who was in a far better position to make the call? The replays showed the assistant was correct - in fact four Fluminense players, including Henrique, were marginally offside.

Secondly, did Ricci reverse his decision as a result of having been informed of the video evidence? Not allowed under the rules of the game. A poor night all round for Sr Ricci.

So, although Fluminense are calling to have the result annulled, Flamengo are now a point behind Palmeiras with eight games to play and this could just be the incident that decides the destination of the title.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbjyEKULiGk

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

Flamengo's 10 game unbeaten run was broken as Internacional came from behind to win 2-1 and escape the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Palmeiras were beating Figueirense to extend their lead to 4 points.

The repercussions of Thursday's Fla-Flu continue to rumble on. A lip-reader has confirmed that the referee was told on the pitch by the referee's assessor, using video evidence, that the goal was offside. I doubt whether anything will come of it though.

Inter are replaced in the relegation zone by Vitória who contrived to miss two penalties in their defeat at Sport. Argel Fucks could achieve the possibly unprecedented feat of managing three relegated teams (Inter, Figueirense and Vitória) in one season.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

At last, Flamengo return to the Maracanã for their first league game there this year. And it was well worth waiting for. Two goals by Guerrero (the first clearly offside were matched by efforts from Guilherme and Rodriguinho (a beautifully worked goal) in a pulsating game that had Flamengo desperately searching for and almost getting a late winner after Guilherme had stupidly got himself sent off.

Have a look for yourself - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvmU8x5QCqo

Some serious trouble in the stadium before the game with Corinthians fans attacking the Policia Militar. After the game, the women and children were let out while the rest were detained for 3 hours as the police attempted to identify those responsible. 39 were eventually arrested.

Meanwhile, in São Paulo Palmeiras were virtually guaranteeing the title with a somewhat fortuitous win over Sport who had a clear penalty denied 30 seconds before Palmeiras took the lead. They are now 6 points ahead with just 6 games to play.

Atlético Mineiro closed in on Flamengo with a 3-0 win over Figueirense and, almost unnoticed, a familiar face has established himself as the Brasileiro's leading scorer - yes, it's Fred again, who is set to become artilheiro for the second season running. Make of that what you will.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

I thought I'd add this as well even though it's bit obscure. Guaraní were playing ABC in the semi-final of the Série C play-offs and were 4-0 down after the first leg. They won 6-0.

The commentator is just superb (even in Portuguese).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWMiKSnyWwk

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

In what could have been a critical week, the top four met each other. Flamengo grabbed a point at Atlético thanks to a last minute equaliser by Guerrero and Palmeiras lost for the first time in 15 games at Santos. Paradoxically, I think Palmeiras will be the happier team, leading by 5 points with just 5 games to go. Santos overtake Atlético to go third.

Internacional could only draw at home to Santa Cruz but I reckon they'll be safe with the four to go down being America-MG, Santa Cruz, Figueirense and Vitória.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

Palmeiras have just about wrapped it up. Their 1-0 win over Internacional extended their lead to 6 points as Flamengo again failed to take advantage of their return to the Maracanã with an utterly dire 0-0 draw against Botafogo.

There was rather more interesting action at the other end of the table where Internacional returned to the relegation zone thanks to Vitória's defeat of Atlético-PR with two goals from the excellent Marinho. And last night, Sport eased their relegation fears with a 3-0 win at Grêmio, thanks to a virtuoso performance by Diego Souza. Even Grêmio fans were applauding his performance, though this may have had more to do with the fact that the result worsened Inter's plight. Diego Souza is now the league's joint top scorer alongside Fred, with 13 goals. Not bad from midfield in a struggling side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lrsGmi1Ocs

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

Palmeiras have just about wrapped it up. Their 1-0 win over Internacional extended their lead to 6 points as Flamengo again failed to take advantage of their return to the Maracanã with an utterly dire 0-0 draw against Botafogo. Santos have overtaken Flamengo in second place.

There was rather more interesting action at the other end of the table where Internacional returned to the relegation zone thanks to Vitória's defeat of Atlético-PR with two goals from the excellent Marinho. And last night, Sport eased their relegation fears with a 3-0 win at Grêmio, thanks to a virtuoso performance by Diego Souza. Even Grêmio fans were applauding him, though this may have had more to do with the fact that the result worsened Inter's plight. Diego Souza is now the league's joint top scorer alongside Fred, with 13 goals. Not bad from midfield in a struggling side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lrsGmi1Ocs

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

Palmeiras are almost there. Six points ahead of Santos with just two games remaining, they need just a point to make sure after their 1-1 draw at Atlético-MG, (with Gabriel Jesus and Lucas Pratto scoring less than 48 hours after appearing for their national teams) and a typically gritty 1-0 over Botafogo.

At the bottom, the unthinkable became much more likely. Internacional are on the verge of a first ever relegation. Vitória's 4-0 thrashing of Figueirense not only condemned them to the third relegation spot but gave them a useful goal difference advantage over Inter. Last night a dodgy penalty for Corinthians condemned a Inter to yet another defeat and they are now three points adrift of safety.

Série B finishes this weekend and it's possible that Vasco might not go up! Atlético-GO and Avaí have confirmed their places in Série A next season but the remaining two places are between Bahia, Vasco and Naútico. Vasco need to win at home to Ceará - I dread to think what might happen if they blow it.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

So Palmeiras have confirmed the title with a win over Chapecoense - a deserved, if unspectacular triumph. By far the most consistent team they have the best squad with strength in depth in all positions, a solid defence and enough flair from the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Dudu to break down the opposition. They're by no means a great team but their main rivals were so mediocre that they were never really threatened. Flamengo beat Santos to leapfrog them into second place while Atlético Mineiro have fallen away badly, costing Marcelo Oliveira his job.

At the bottom, Inter just kept their hopes alive thanks to a superb late goal by Valdívia beat Cruzeiro but Vitória are just about to play Coritiba and a win for them would almost certainly relegate Internacional.

Meanwhile, Vasco are up! In the end it was a bit anti-climactic as even though they fell behind early to Ceará, they knew Naútico were surprisingly losing at home to Oeste. One person who may not be celebrating is manager Jorginho. He's been sacked today by Eurico Miranda, for whom third place presumably wasn't good enough.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

Football has restarted in Brasil with the second leg of the Copa do Brasil final. After winning the away leg 3-1, Grêmio clinched their record fifth Cup win with a 1-1 draw against Atlético Mineiro. It wasn't the best of games and was enlivened only by the customary brawl at the end and Cazares' consolation goal for Atlético - he lobbed the keeper from inside his own half. So Grêmio end their 15 year national title drought.

The final round of league games is on Sunday with the main interest being whether Inter can pull off a miracle and avoid relegation. They need to win at Fluminense and hope that either Sport fail to beat Figueirense or Vitória lose at home to Palmeiras, while losing a 5 goal goal difference advantage.

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Futebol Brasileiro 2016

So Internacional have been relegated, leaving only four clubs - São Paulo, Santos, Flamengo and Cruzeiro - as permanent Série A members.

They went out with hardly a whimper in a 1-1 drawagainst a Fluminense team that hadn't won for 9 games but even if they'd won it would have been futile as Sport beat Figueirense 2-0 and Vitória only lost 2-1 to Palmeiras.

The final two Liberatores places went to Botafogo and Atlético-PR with Corinthians missing out.

Edit: of course there is another club that has never been relegated from Série A - Chapecoense.