Then there was none - Flamengo finally loses.
Ronaldinho's side, on the even of his call up to the national team for upcoming friendlies, have finally lost their first game of the season. And just as they seemed to be settling in at the top, Flamengo have surrendered the lead and initiative back to Corinthians, who promptly produced a strong performance to win away.
Tite's side lead the table outright again, opening up a three point lead over Flamengo.
At the other end, Santos have slid into the relegation spots. It all went down in round 17 of the 2011 Brazilian Serie A.
All 20 teams were in action in midweek with seven games on Wednesday and three more on Thursday.
Fluminense got things started by beating Figueirense at home 3-0 in Tuesday's early game. A solid opener from Edinho sent them on their way before Rafael Moura, who only scores in doubles, sealed the win. Flu move upto to 8th while Figu move down to 10th. Moura now has six goals this year.
Vasco then made it two in two for Rio clubs with a strong 2-0 away win at Avai. Diego Souza and Dede scoring the goals for the win that took Vasco back up to fourth but just a point behind Flamengo in second and tied with Sao Paulo in third. Avai fall back deeper into the relegation mire in 19th.
Ceara produced a strong all round performance to deny Gremio beating them 3-0 at home with a Marcelo Nicacio double following up Eusebio's opener. The win takes the northern side into 11th spot while Gremio remain 15th. Nicacio has reached five goals for the season.
Atletico Paranaense then beat Cruzeiro, for the latter' fifth loss in six games, 2-1 at home, with Cleber Santana and Marcinho scoring the goals for Para while Wellington Paulista pulled one back for the visitors. Cruzeiro's Anselmo Ramon joined Avai's Robinho (not that one) in getting sent off. Para were at the bottom of the table for most of the first quarter of the season but as the league nears its half way point, they have improved significantly to get up to 16th and out of the relegation zone.
Cruzeiro are dropping like a stone in the water and are now 12th. One of the preseason bets for the title are out of the race altogether.
Santos, however produced yet another tragic performance in what is becoming a nightmare season for them. Despite a Borges double they succumbed 3-2 to Coritiba at home with Leo Gago, Jeci and Marcos Aurelio all scoring for the visitors. Santos now rest in 17th, the last relegation spot while Coritiba, the cup finalists are up to ninth. Borges has the distinction of becoming the first to reach double figures with his twin strikes taking him to 10 for the season. Neymar and Ganso were quiet once again while Marcos Aurelio now has five goals.
Internacional brought high flying Botafogo back down to Earth win a 1-0 win at home. Inter remain seventh but Bota are now fifth and five points behind Vasco. Leandro Damiao, with his seventh goal of the season, notched the win.
In the last game played on Wednesday, Corinthians, who would not give up the lead that easily, came back from two goals down to win 3-2 at Atletico Mineiro. Dudu Cearense and Guilherme, from the spot sent Mineiro on their way before Emerson, Alex and Liedson clawed back the game and points off a strong performance. Mineiro are one below Santos in 18th spot while Corinthians open up a three point gap on Flamengo.
Liedson scored his sixth goal of the season, Tite's charges are back on top.
Thursday saw the remaining three games.
Palmeiras hosted Bahia in a 1-1 draw with Chilean playmaker Jorge Valdivia scoring the opener for the home side before Titi replied for Bahia. Sao Paulo also drew 1-1 on their travels at America with Marlos scoring the first and Kempes levelling for Mineiro. Sao Paulo improve to 33 points, one point behind Flamengo in second. Palmeiras lose pace at the top and are sixth, tied on points with Botafogo. Bahia are 13th.
America remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
In the remaining fixture, the upset and result of the round happened with Atletico Goianiense, for a long time dwelling in the cellar, finishing off Flamengo in Rio. Pituca, Juninho, Anselmo and Diogo Campos all scored for the visitors, who raced into a 4-0 lead before Jael scored a consolation for Flamengo. This was Flamengo's first defeat and they slip up at the top. And it was a real hammering.
Borges now leads Ronaldinho at the top of the scoring charts, with 10 goals to Ronnie's nine.
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- There are no more unbeaten teams in the league.
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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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Week 18 Preview:
On the weekend, Round 18 is scheduled to be played as the Serie A moves back to its crazy schedule of two games a week.
Saturday sees Corinthians host Figueirense, Cruzeiro host Ceara and Atletico Mineiro visit Botafogo.
Sunday has seven more games with two choice games, Internacional hosting Flamengo and a Paulista derby with Sao Paulo hosting Palmeiras. Santos, ominously, has to visit northern giants Bahia.
In other games, Avai host Coritiba, At Go welcome Gremio and At Para hosting America Mineiro. Another Rio derby also takes place with Vasco hosting Fluminense on Sunday. Corinthians, Botafogo and Vasco are good bets for home wins while Inter-Flamengo, Sao-Paulo-Palmeiras and At Go-Gremio all finishing as draws.
Keep up with the action, here at Arjblog.
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