Friday, 30 October 2009

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A - The Run In

Here is a run down of the last 6 games for the title and relegation contenders

Palmeiras (57 points)

Corinthians H
Fluminense A
Sport Recife H
Grêmio A
Atlético-MG H
Botafogo A

You'd think that the Big Green have the most difficult run in of the top 6. They have to play three teams fighting relegation but the dreaded trip to unbeaten at home Grêmio on the horizon before what could be a moster clash with Atlético-MG at the Palestra Itália.

São Paulo (55 points)

Barueri H
Grêmio A
Vitória H
Botafogo A
Goiás A
Sport Recife H

São Paulo could be in the box seat, only the one potential slip up at the Grêmio graveyard on the horizon and every other game is winnable with three midtable sides and only the one relegation candidate in Botafogo to take on.

Atlético Miniero (53 points)

Goiás A
Flamengo H
Coritiba A
Internacional H
Palmeiras A
Corinthians H

Only one word to describe this run in. Ouch. If Atlético-MG are to win the league they are going to have to do it the hard was. Goiás is no easy place to go, with Flamengo, Inter and Palmeiras also to play it's going to be some effort for Atlético-MG to finish on top.

Internacional (52 points)

Botafogo H
Barueri A
Santos H
Atlético-MG A
Sport Recife A
Santo André H

Again Inter have been blessed with not the most difficult run in, three relegation threatened sides to play and two of those games at home. Mid table sides in Santos and Barueri, their toughest game of the run in will be at Atlético-MG

Cruzeiro (51 points)

Fluminense H
Sport Recife A
Grêmio H
Atlético-PR A
Coritiba H
Santos A

Possibly the easiest run in of the title challengers, it wouldn't surprise me if Cruzeiro managed to win all of these games and set the bar at 69 points. Three relegation candidates with two at home, a Grêmio side that had travel sickness so bad it's untrue and Atlético-PR and Santos both in the bottom half.

Flamengo (51 points)

Santos H
Atlético-MG A
Náutico A
Goiás H
Corinthians A
Grêmio H

Again, not a bad run in for Flamengo. Only Atlético-MG on the horizon but the other 5 games are defenitely winnable. Difference is only one relegation candidate in Náutico to play, the rest are all comfortable in mid table.

And now the bottom, who is heading for Série B

Fluminense (30 points)

Cruzeiro A
Palmeiras H
Atlético-PR H
Sport Recife A
Vitória H
Coritiba A

You know, it's not really that bad a run in for Fluminense. They should write off the Cruzeiro and Palmeiras games and concentrate on their last 4. The two home games are winnable whilst they face clashes again fellow relegation candidates in their away games. Fluminese are on a 6 game unbeaten run but their Copa Sudamericana committments may get in the way.

Sport Recife (30 points)

Náutico A
Cruzeiro H
Palmeiras A
Fluminense H
Internacional H
São Paulo A

You've got to think the writing is on the wall for Sport. It's a shocker of a run in. They have 4 of the top 6 to play with only Náutico and Fluminense as winnable games. A year the started in the Libertadores may end in Série B for Sport.

Náutico (32 points)

Sport Recife H
Santos A
Flamengo H
Corinthians A
Santo André A
Avaí H

If you wanted a decent run in whilst in a relegation fight you'd be in favour of this one. Only Flamengo from the top 6 to play, one of your fellow relegation candidates to play and the rest all coming from mid table. Don't write Náutico off yet.

Santo André (32 points)

Grêmio H
Corinthians A
Goiás A
Avaí H
Náutico H
Internacional A

Again not a bad run in for Santo André, confident after the recent win of Palmeiras they only have Inter from the top 6 to face. Grêmio's travel sickness is well documented already and they have Náutico at home in what could be their big game. Otherwise it's mid table teams all the way.

Botafogo (35 points)

Internacional A
Coritiba H
Barueri A
São Paulo H
Atlético-PR A
Palmeiras H

Botafogo have probably the worst run in of all the relegation candidates and like Fluminense still have Copa Sudamericana committments to keep. It's not a nice run in with Inter, Palmeiras and São Paulo all to play but there are winnable games against Coritiba and Barueri as well.

Coritiba (38 points)

Vitória H
Botafogo A
Atlético-MG H
Santos A
Cruzeiro A
Fluminense H

Coritiba could take a big step by defeating Vitória this weekend, a big clash with Botafogo follows before a toughie against Atlético-MG. Santos is a target game before inform Cruzeiro away is a game to forget. It could all come down to the last day when Fluminense are in town.

Stick with us, we'll be bringing you all the action from the exciting finish to the season in Brazil.

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