It's here !
The opening weekend started off with a bang as four teams recorded impressive away victories. In all, six of last season's top seven lost their opening games.
Ominously for the rest of the league, Sao Paolo, beat defending champions Fluminense 2-0 at the Joao Havelange stadium in Rio De Janeiro. With youngsters Casemiro and Lucas both impressing, the game was already wrapped up when returning Brazilian legend Rivaldo came on as a late substitute for the last few minutes. Fluminense had a slight edge in both possession and shots on goal but Sao Paolo were more effective in their use of the ball.
In another matchup between clubs from rival cities of Sao Paolo and Rio, Palmeiras again decided the tie in favour of the Paulista with a 1-0 defeat of Botafogo. Elsewhere Corinthians, who finished third last season, came from behind to stun Gremio at their home in Porto Allegre, 2-1. Portuguese striker Liedson and defender Chicao replied after Douglas had opened the scoring for the home side. Santos, without rested national team starlets Neymar and Ganso, but featuring Manchester United's Rodrigo Possebon and Barcelona's Keirrison, tied Internacional 1-1, to ensure that all four of the teams from Sao Paolo state remained unbeaten.
Ronaldinho's Flamengo, one of the outside bets to regain the title they last won in 2009, started their campaign with an emphatic 4-0 win over visitors Avai, at Claudio Moacir de Azevedo in the capital Rio. The other club from the city of Florianopolis, Figueirense, fared much better, recording a 1-0 home win over Cruzeiro, the 2010 runners-up.
The other two teams from Minas Gerais' capital Belo Horizonte, America MG and Athletico Miniero, both won, beating Bahia 2-1 and Athletico Paranaense 3-0 respectively. America's win was crucial for the club as they edged fellow promoted side Bahia in an early game that both teams had obviously penciled in as a must win. Athletico's win was arguably more impressive as they beat a team that had established itself in the top half of the table, for several seasons, as well as finishing seventh the year before.
Vasco Da Gama, the remaining Rio club, scored a healthy 3-1 away win over Ceara, in a daunting trip to the northern most club in the country. Striker Bernardo scored a double to top the early scoring charts. Finally, Athletico Goianiense, who just missed relegation, finishing 16th in 2010, topped promoted Coritiba 1-0 away.
At the moment Flamengo top the table, with a solid goal difference of +4 keeping them ahead of the pack.
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- Of the 10 clubs that finished in the top half of the table in 2010, only Corinthians, Sao Paolo and Palmeiras won.
- From the four promoted sides, Figueirense and America both won while Bahia and Coritiba both lost.
- Rio saw two of its teams win and two lose while the four Sao Paolo sides notched three wins and a draw.
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At least the top 12 sides will qualify for continental competition next spring while the bottom four teams will get relegated to the 2012 Serie B.
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Sao Paolo and Corinthians were the best performers with away wins over tough opposition.
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Next up are the semi-finals of both the Copa Do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores, on Wednesday.
Ceara hosts Coritiba while Vasco is away to Avai. Both are second leg matches.
Tip: Vasco to beat Avai and then edge Coritiba in the final.
Santos plays Paraguay's Cerro Porteno while Argentina's Velez Sarsfield squares off with Uruguay's Penarol in the other tie. Both are first leg matches.
Tip: Santos to edge Cerro Porteno on away goals in a repeat of their group stage matchup. Velez and Penarol are too close to call, but Velez might just squeak through.
The opening weekend started off with a bang as four teams recorded impressive away victories. In all, six of last season's top seven lost their opening games.
Ominously for the rest of the league, Sao Paolo, beat defending champions Fluminense 2-0 at the Joao Havelange stadium in Rio De Janeiro. With youngsters Casemiro and Lucas both impressing, the game was already wrapped up when returning Brazilian legend Rivaldo came on as a late substitute for the last few minutes. Fluminense had a slight edge in both possession and shots on goal but Sao Paolo were more effective in their use of the ball.
Ronaldinho's Flamengo, one of the outside bets to regain the title they last won in 2009, started their campaign with an emphatic 4-0 win over visitors Avai, at Claudio Moacir de Azevedo in the capital Rio. The other club from the city of Florianopolis, Figueirense, fared much better, recording a 1-0 home win over Cruzeiro, the 2010 runners-up.
The other two teams from Minas Gerais' capital Belo Horizonte, America MG and Athletico Miniero, both won, beating Bahia 2-1 and Athletico Paranaense 3-0 respectively. America's win was crucial for the club as they edged fellow promoted side Bahia in an early game that both teams had obviously penciled in as a must win. Athletico's win was arguably more impressive as they beat a team that had established itself in the top half of the table, for several seasons, as well as finishing seventh the year before.
Vasco Da Gama, the remaining Rio club, scored a healthy 3-1 away win over Ceara, in a daunting trip to the northern most club in the country. Striker Bernardo scored a double to top the early scoring charts. Finally, Athletico Goianiense, who just missed relegation, finishing 16th in 2010, topped promoted Coritiba 1-0 away.
At the moment Flamengo top the table, with a solid goal difference of +4 keeping them ahead of the pack.
--
- Of the 10 clubs that finished in the top half of the table in 2010, only Corinthians, Sao Paolo and Palmeiras won.
- From the four promoted sides, Figueirense and America both won while Bahia and Coritiba both lost.
- Rio saw two of its teams win and two lose while the four Sao Paolo sides notched three wins and a draw.
--
At least the top 12 sides will qualify for continental competition next spring while the bottom four teams will get relegated to the 2012 Serie B.
--
Sao Paolo and Corinthians were the best performers with away wins over tough opposition.
--
Next up are the semi-finals of both the Copa Do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores, on Wednesday.
Ceara hosts Coritiba while Vasco is away to Avai. Both are second leg matches.
Tip: Vasco to beat Avai and then edge Coritiba in the final.
Santos plays Paraguay's Cerro Porteno while Argentina's Velez Sarsfield squares off with Uruguay's Penarol in the other tie. Both are first leg matches.
Tip: Santos to edge Cerro Porteno on away goals in a repeat of their group stage matchup. Velez and Penarol are too close to call, but Velez might just squeak through.
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