First up,
Congratulations are due to Santos, whom won the 2011 Copa Libertadores on Wednesday over Penarol off Uruguay.
With a 0-0 draw in the second leg, Santos beat the team in yellow and black 2-1 at home with goals from Neymar and Danilo. With Ganso, fit again after a lentghy injury layaway, a surprise inclusion in midfield and captain Edu Dracena back in the centre of defence, Santos, could and should have been out of sight. A lte deflected own goal from Durval gave the Peixes fan some nerves, but Pele's old team held on to secure a famous victory.
A brief brawl erupted at the final whistle but eventually it died down as Santos emerged to accept the trophy amidst a roar of adulation and showers of confetti from the home support. By far, the best team in the competition, Santos were deserving winners. Their first Copa Libertadores title after a 48 year wait, legend Pele was in the boxes, watching as his old team turned the screw.
Penarol were too defensive for their own good and were looking to capitalize on a defensive slip up or a rare counter attack to stun the home side. Small wonder then that Santos heavily outshot their opponents and racked up several easy chances in the second half. However, for all their attacking endeavour, they missed several gilt edged chances. So, when a rare Penarol attack down the right saw the ball carrom in off Santos defender Durval, Santos looked briefly, to be in trouble. Although the tie would go to extra time, if Penarol scored again, one wondered if Santos's profligacy would come back to haunt them
In the event they hold on and recorded a great win to start their season off in excellent fashion. Neymar may have played his last game for the side from the coast off of Sao Paulo, but he was central to the proceedings here. Used in harness with their central midfield pairing of Ganso and Arouca, he was constantly released in line or just before their Penarol backline, creating havoc wherever he went. With Elano and Ze Eduardo joining in or drifting wide, Santo's front six were orchestrating mayhem in tandem.
Right back Danilo was a rampaging presence down the right flank, and one such confident surge into the box brought him the second goal. Thereafter Ney mar hit the post, Ze Eduardo, Elano and Ganso all missed sitters and Santos fans were treated to an exhibition of attacking football.
Santos will hope Neymar and Ganso both stick around for a little bit longer (although Ganso looks set to stay till at least the end of the year), so that they can claw back some group on runaway league leaders Sao Paulo. Remember, Santos won the Paulista championship this year.
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Plenty of games on tap this weekend as Round Six gets underway. 18 teams are in action in nine games - three on Saturday and then six on Sunday.
Once again Santos' game is postponed to July 2 2011, on account of their, midweek Copa Libertadores exertions.
Saturday:
Flamengo, in seventh, host Atletico Mineiro, fifth, in a match that sees the unbeaten team from Rio, hope to get their campaign back on track against their northern rivals from Belo Horizonte. Mineiro started well but have stuck in a rut since their loss to Sao Paulo in week three.
Ronaldinho suits up for Flamengo, the 2009 winners against Amantino Mancini, who plays for Mineiro.
Both other games are relegation six pointers as first Bahia travel to Atl. Para while Cruzeiro host Coritiba. Expect home wins but with points at a premium for all four clubs, defensive resilience may be the key to grinding out another point. Bahia is in 14th with 5 points while Para is in 19th with a single point.
Watch out for Anderson Aquino and Jobson, strikers for Coritiba and Bahia, respectively. Both lead their teams with three goals each. One will hope Cruzeiro's Wallyson, finally breaks his league duck.
Sunday:
The game of the week, sees a top of the table showdown between first and third. Leaders Sao Paulo, make the short trip across town to take on local rivals Corinthians. Although a draw seems likely, expect Sao Paulo to come out with all guns blazing as they look to win six games on the trot and with a clear four point advantage over second placed Palmeiras.
Lucas, Casemiro and Rogerio Ceni lead the team from Morumbi against Liedson and Willian, the latter with three goals in four games.
Elsewhere, sixth placed Botafogo, who are in the unlikely position of being the highest placed Rio club, take on tenth placed Gremio, while fellow Porto Allegre side Internacional, in 11th, host high flying Figueirense, who are currently in fourth with seven points from their last three games.
Look for Gremio to lose and for Internacional to win as they try to get their season back on track. Expect goals from Junior Vicosa and Oscar respectively, as well as appearances from Argentines and Uruguayans aplenty. The Porto Allegre pair have several foreigners on their rolls from Brazil's southern neighbours.
Away wins are in store for both Palmeiras and defending champions Fluminense as they travel to bottom feeders Ceara (Northern outpost, tough away trip, etc) and rock bottom Avai, respectively. Expect Kleber and Luan to score for Palmeiras while Fred and Rafael Moura look to fill up against Avai.
Avai have conceded a league high 17 goals so far while Fluminense are the second most goal-shy with just three strikes to their name.
Finally, Cup champions Vasco will travel to 9th placed Atl Go and look to build on their seventh place. Bernardo and Elton have seven goals between them for the Rio club that carries the Portuguese explorer's name.
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