They are State Champions but can they be National Champions? (Lucas Uebel - VIPCOMM)
The Brazilian National Championship kicked off yesterday afternoon which makes my report at least one day late. Sorry about that! Better late than never, right? In my report, I give a short comment on each of the twenty teams and my prediction about where they will finish in the league table. For a full explanation on Brazilian football and all of the club competitions see this link. Continue reading
Cruzeiro win the Minas Gerais State Championship (Washington Alves - VIPCOMM)
After months of football, the Brazilian State Championships came to a dramatic close today. Starting in São Paulo, Santos won the local competition for the second successive year, beating Corinthians 2-1 in a tense but ultimately low quality game of football. Continue reading
Not even Guií±azu could save Inter (Lucas Uebel/VIPCOMM)
Four Brazilian clubs were dumped out of the Copa Libertadores in spectacular fashion last night. Going into the evening’s games, only Grêmio had a difficult first leg score to overturn. Internacional lost 2-1 (3-2 agg) at home to Peí±arol, Cruzeiro lost 2-0 (3-2 on agg) at home to Once Caldas and Fluminense were humiliated 3-0 (4-3 agg) against Libertad in Paraguay. Grêmio lost their away match against Universidad Católica from Chile 1-0 and 3-1 on aggregate. Continue reading
Thiago Neves scores the winner for Flamengo (Maurício Val/VIPCOMM)
After three months of mind numbing State Championships, nearly all of the 24 odd Brazilian State Championships kicked into life yesterday as their reached their finale with a number of historic derby matches deciding trophies and finalists. All of the three main derby matches played on Sunday (Palmeiras x Corinthians, Internacional x Grêmio and Flamengo x Vasco) were decided on penalties while a day earlier Santos beat São Paulo 2-0 away from home to reach the São Paulo State final. Continue reading
Shameful scenes in Argentina (Getty Images)
All five Brazilian clubs have classified for the second round of this year’s Copa Libertadores. Santos and Fluminense both squeezed through after wins on the last match day.
In the night’s most emotional game Fluminense beat Argentinos Juniors 4-2 away from home and snuck through on goals scored (eliminating Nacional from Uruguay in the process). Continue reading
Santos beat Colo Colo 3-2 at home in their must win game last night. There chances of qualifying for the next phase are far from certain though. Last night they had Neymar, Elano and Ze Eduardo sent off and they will all miss the next game away to Cerro Porteí±o.
Fluminense are all but out of the competition after losing to Nacional from Uruguay 2-0.
Internacional lost 1-0 against Jaguares in Mexico but still lead their group with one game to go.
In the Brazilian Cup, São Paulo beat Santa Cruz 2-0 to go through to the next round. Atlético Mineiro were the only big club to surprisingly lose.
Will write more soon.
Leandro Damião (LUCAS UEBEL/VIPCOMM)
Leandro Damião has been called up to the Brazil squad for the friendly against Scotland after injury ruled Pato and Nilmar out of the match. The 21 year old received the call from Mano Menezes after some cracking form at Internacional where he has scored 13 goals in his last 9 games (admittedly against some weak opposition in the Gaúcho State Championship). Nonetheless he’s quality and hopefully we’ll see him get out on the pitch and make his debut.
Leandro Damião has now scored 13 goals in 8 games for Inter (Alexandre Lops/SCInter/VIPCOMM)
Cruzeiro smash six past Deportes Tolima, while Internacional win away from home 4 x 1 in Bolivia. Santos lose 3 x 2 in Chile against Colo Col. Flamengo and Palmeiras both win and progress in the Brazilian Cup. Continue reading
Wallyson scores another two (Juliana Flister - VIPCOMM)
It was a mixed week for Brazilian clubs in the Copa Libertadores as Cruzeiro and Internacional produced convincing wins while Grêmio lost in Colombia and Fluminense drew at home. Continue reading