There is daylight.
Corinthians have broken free of the pack and surged further ahead of the competition in Serie A. Although anything can still happen and the league is till less than a third of the way through, Corinthians seem to be running away with the title.
The latest game week saw them play twice and win both games without conceding a goal.
First, in the early midweek game, they silenced Falcao's Internacional to win 1-0 at home. Striker Willian scored his second consecutive game winner (and third such strike of the season) while 'keeper Julio Cesar kept another clean sheet. On Wednesday, the Paulista side travelled to Rio to take on Botafogo. The result was another comfortable 2-0 win, another clean sheet, away three points and more padding at the top of the table. Liedson and Paulinho did the damage this time.
While Corinthians started well, they have kicked it up a notch ever since their 5-0 humiliation of early pace-setters Sao Paulo. Strong in defence, deadly in attack and able to maintain their form both at home and away, they are now the class of the league. One would be hard pressed to bet against them. Only a dip in form coupled with Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, Flamengo and Santos all playing perfectly, can knock them off their current perch.
No one else can catch them.
The defeat of Botafogo was their seventh straight win, their ninth of the season, from 10 games and only Flamengo, at home, have managed to hold the Corinthian juggernaut. Striker Willian has now notched five goals, almost always scoring in games in which they keep a clean sheet. Additionally Portugal's Liedson has scored another five goals while midfielder Danilo and Paulinho have tallied a further five goals between them. No one has scored more than their 19 goals and no one has conceded less than their four goals. In their 10 games they have kept six clean sheets and have never allowed more than one goal in any game.
They lead the league with 28 points from 10 games, seven clear of second placed Sao Paulo.
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Among the rest of the league, many of whom are now consigned to figuring as also-rans, week 10 saw games spread over four days.
The midweek game last Wednesday featured Internacional losing to the league leaders, in a game brought forward from later in the season. Meanwhile the scheduled games over the game week were spread over Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday. Hectic, in the shadow of Copa America.
Internacional followed up that loss with another defeat on Sunday to Sao Paulo, at home. The early league leaders have righted their ship and after their win last week, scored an impressive 3-0 away victory. They have now won two games on the trot after losing three in a row. U-20 star Casemiro, Fernandinho and Carlinhos Paraiba scored the goals for the Morumbi side. They move back up to second with seven wins and three losses, to sit seven points behind in second spot.
Inter have now lost three in a row and after a three game winning streak where they scored nine goals and allowed only won, they drop down to ninth spot with a three game run in which they have allowed six goals without reply.
On Saturday, Coritiba got things started with a good 3-1 home win over Rio club Fluminense. Marcos Aurelio, Pereira and that man, Bill, scored the goals for a Dario Conca less Fluminense (who was sold to Chinese Side Guangzhou Evergrande). Matheus Carvalho replied for the visitors. The Argentine hitman, voted best player of te Serie A in both 2009 and 2010, has already scored a goal in his first game for the Chinese club, who paid close to $11 million for him.
Avai finally won their first game with a special 1-0 win at At Go. The relegation six-pointer went the way of the side from Santa Catarina as they opened their account in style. William scored the only goal of the game in the 10th minute. Avai are now 16th but At Go were unable to escape the bottom four and remain in 17th, just a point ahead of their conquerors.
Alecsandro scored the first of several double this week as he helped Vasco ease to a win against bottom side Atl Para at home. Kleberson replied for the visitors who stay rooted to the bottom of the table. Vasco remain fifth.
Danilo and Borges, from a spot kick, brought Santos a victory over Atletico Mineiro at home. With Brazil suffering a tepid elimination from Copa America, no club stands to gain as much with their trio of Elano, Ganso and Neymar all returning. With their second win in three games, Santos rise to 14th and have two games in hand over most of the table. Mineiro drop to 15th and have won just three games all season. Jhonata Obina scored their only goal as they levelled things in the 26th minute.
Sunday saw two more games played in addition to the Sao Paulo - Inter match. Ceara trounced America Mineiro 4-0 with Washington scoring a double. Fabricio and Felipe Azevedo also tallied for Ceara as they gave their travelling opponents a torrid hosting. Ceara, with three wins and only one defeat in their last five games, rise to 10th while America drop to 19th.
Then, Cruzeiro beat Bahia 2-1 with that man Wallyson scoring a double. Jobson replied for the visiting northern giants. After not scoring for the first eight games, Wallyson has notched three goals in two games. Cru move up to seventh while Bahia edge closer to the relgation zone in 16th.
After Sunday's Corinthians-Botafogo match, The top of the league table saw teams square off in a tepid round of games. Second placed Flamengo visited third placed Palmeiras and true to form, held them to a 0-0 draw. Flamengo remain unbeaten with their fifth draw in 10 games and drop a spot to third while Palmeiras drop down to fourth. Both teams missed a chance to keep pace with runaway leaders Corinthians. Palmeiras have not lost for four games and have only been beaten once all campaign.
The final game of the week saw a mid-table clash between Figueirense and Gremio. Fittingly, for a match played during the 2011 Copa America, it finished 0-0 as well.
Walter Montillo still leads all scorers with six goals. Ronaldinho and Liedson are now joined by five other players with five goals.
Avai and Ceara scored the most impressive results, notching their first win and a 4-0 thrashing respectively.
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Internacional and Corinthians both played twice this round. While the latter won both games without conceding a goal, Inter lost both times, without scoring one.
Only two clubs remain unbeaten, Corinthians and Ronaldinho's Flamengo.
With Avai's win only bottom side Atletico Paranaense is still winless.
All four Paulista clubs were in action playing five games. Only Palmeiras failed to win their game.
Of the four Rio clubs in action only Vasco won.
After starting badly and figuring in the relegation zone, Ceara, Coritiba and Cruzeiro are all in the top 11.
Eight matches ended with at least one clean sheet.
Only 16 goals were scored in 11 matches,
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At least the top 13 sides will qualify for continental competition next spring while the bottom four teams will get relegated to the 2012 Serie B. Santos added to the four spots the league gets in the 2012 Copa Libertadores by winning this year's edition.
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Vasco Da Gama, who won the Copa Do Brasil, have booked a spot at the 2012 Copa Libertadores.
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With games now coming thick and fast, Gameweek 11 kicks of tonight with Avai hosting Inter. The remaining nine games stretch from Saturday all the way to next Wednesday.
Inter should return to form with an away win over Avai, who despite their first win, are still very much cannon fodder.
A full preview of them will appear tomorrow.
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