Week 5 is here and kicks off Saturday, June 18 at 17:30 local time.
Two games on Saturday, seven on Sunday and then the Wednesday night showdown between Santos and Corinthians.
On Sunday, Fluminense host winless Bahia at home in the first game. The defending champions will badly want to win this game to put some more points on the board and try to get back up the table. For Bahia their terrible season opening seems likely to continue for another week although don't count out some heroic defending. Just don't count on an away day upset by the team from Salvador in the North.
Sunday's other game sees a Belo Horizonte derby between promoted America Mineiro and surprisingly, relegation zone Cruzeiro. Moreover, the latter, erstwhile South American champions, sit in the odd position of being the winless away team who are lower than their cross town rivals in this tie. It won't last however, Cruzeiro will be the only one of the four winless teams to win this week and will beat America to move out of the bottom four.
On Saturday, we have a mouth watering Rio derby between Flamengo and Botafogo, as both teams seek to gain the upper hand and move out of midtable. Flamengo, one of four unbeaten teams, are slight favourites. Palmeiras hosts winless and bottom team Avai and will look to maintain the status-quo with a convincing home win and keep the pressure on Sao Paulo. The latter team, leading the league currently, travel to the northern outpost of Ceara to visit the promoted side and fancy all three points in a resounding away win.
Two of the Atleticos - Mineiro and Goianiense square off at the former's home ground in Belo Horizonte. Mineiro will look to get back on the winning track, while a Porto Allegre - Rio tussle occurs in the form of Gremio hosting Cup champs Vasco. The other Porto Allegre tean, Internacional visit Coritiba in the late game on Sunday.
Rounding out Sunday action sees high flying Florianopolis side Figueiriense host Atletico Paranaense. Expect a solid home win and for Para to remain winless along with Avai and Bahia.
Wednesday's game sees the curtain fall on week 5 with a top clash between Santos hosting the team currently second in the league, Corinthians. Although Sao Paulo are on top at the moment, they will be hoping for a draw in this game as both teams are direct rivals and Paulista teams.
A draw it may well be.
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