Brazilian Serie A Week 4

Sao Paulo are now the clear leaders in the 2011 Brazilian Serie A.

Runaway might be too strong a word, but they have opened a bit of a gap between themselves and second placed Corinthians.  And the gap down to third placed Palmeiras is now four points, after just four games.

The Sao Paolo side are perfect with four wins from four games, and with their 3-1 defeat of Gremio at home, finally conceded their first goal.  Ironically, a Sao Paulo own goal from Brazil U-20 starlet Casemiro finally broke the shutout streak by captain Rogerio Ceni in goal.

Gremio stay on six points after two games with two wins and two losses.  Casemiro also scored at the proper end as his opener in the 13th minute sent Sao Paulo on their way.  Additional goals from Marlos and Jean completed the comfortable win for the league leaders.

Gremio defender Rafael Marques (not that one, the one you're thinking, Rafael Marquez, is on Copa America duty with Mexico) got sent off for a straight red in injury time.  America's Alessandro scored his third goal of the season.

For the record Mexico, despite five players testing positive for a banned substance, are destroying Group A at the Copa America.  You can follow that here.

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On Saturday, Avai and America Mineiro played out a 2-2 draw in their relegation six pointer.  Cassio tied things up injury time for the hosts.  Both clubs look set for a long, hard season.

Walter Montillo scored an opener for Cruzeiro who hosted Santos in a 1-1 draw.  Borges, with his third goal of the season as well, levelled things.  Santos are now seven points behind Sao Paulo.

With the Copa Libertadores final still to be played, Santos cannot, as yet, unleash their full fury in the league.  Moreover with stars Neymar and Ganso, potentially on their way over the summer, their margin for error remains thin.  Perhaps the other Sao Paolo duo, Corinthians and Palmeiras, have now emerged as the main challengers for Sao Paulo ?  Only time will tell.

In Saturday's last game, Vasco Da Gama followed up their Cup win with a 1-1 draw with Figueirense.  Elton started things off but Aloisio pulled one back for the visitors from Santa Catarina in the 89th minute.

More draws followed on Sunday.  Bahia tied Atletico Mineiro at home, in the early game, as the latter have slowed down somwhat after their perfect start.  For the visitors Neto Beroia scored and equalizer and then got sent off.

Internacional tied Palmeiras at home 2-2.  National team striker Leandro Damiao made the scores even in the 90th minute.  Argentines Alessandro D'Alessandro and Pablo Guinazu both started.  Oscar joined Leandro up front and Fernando Cavenaghi made the bench.  Former Real Betis striker, Rafael Sobis didn't feature at all.

Marcio Araujo and Rodrigo traded own goals to start things up.  Luan looked to have won the game for Luiz Felipe Scolari's Palmeiras side but Damiao popped up to steal a share of the points.

Chilean midfield general Jorge Valdivia didn't feature but former Roma centrocampista Marcos Assuncao did.  He didn't rifle in any of his trademark free-kicks and picked up a yellow card.

Although they will be disappinted with the final result, Palmeiras will take the positives from a tricky trip to a big rival and are still unbeaten, in third spot, now riding in Corinthians' slip stream.

Speaking of Corinthians, the second placed team in the league picked up another win, a big 2-0 result over defending champions Fluminense at home.  Willian scored a double to keep Corinthians just behind Sao Paulo, in second spot, trailing by a couple of points.

Atletico Paranaense and Flamengo also drew 1-1, a result the latter will be unhappy with.  Only a late goal from former Fenerbahce player Deivid (Remember the number 99 shirt?) kept the capital club in contention as they have now drawn three games in a row.

Atletico GO picked up their second win with a strong 4-1 home win over Northern club Ceara.  Anselmo scored a double for the home team.  The win brings Atletico up to ninth in the table.

Wrapping things up, In the late game on Sunday. Rio club Botafogo beat Coritiba 3-1, as the losing cup finalists returned to league action with another away defeat.

Odd Trivia alert: Rosimar Amancio, nicknamed Bill, scored for the second game in a row for the visitors, having scored the equaliser in the cup final the previous Wednesday.

Coritiba's Anderson Aquino shares the scoring lead with Santos's Borges, Corinthians Willian and three others:  Mineiro's Alessandro and Vasco pair Elton and Bernardo.

Argentine Dario Botinelli is the highest scoring foreigner, with two goals.

Countrymen Cavenaghi, D'Alessandro, Walter Montillo and Portuguese Liedson have all scored one goal.

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All four Sao Paolo clubs avoided defeat.
The top three clubs in the standings are also from Sao Paolo.
Botafogo was the only Rio club that won.
Four clubs are still unbeaten, Sao Paulo, Corinthians, Palmeiras (1-2-3 in the table) and Ronaldinho's Flamengo.
Four clubs are still winless in Avai, Atletico Paranaense, Bahia, Cruzeiro
Only four games finished with a result as 12 teams picked up a point.

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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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The 2011 Copa Libertadores kicks off this Wednesday.

Uruguay's Penarol host Santos on June 15 before Santos returns the favour on June 22, the following Wednesday.

If the teams are tied on goal difference at the end of regulation in the second leg, the away goals rule will not be applied and 30 minutes of extra time will be played. If still tied after extra time, the title will be decided by penalty shootout.

Notoriously hard to call, Santos will fancy its chances for the final.

Their team is deeper and more explosive than Penarol and should prevail.  Expect a cagey affair that should be decided by at most one goal.