Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Week 30

São Paulo 0-1 Atlético Miniero
Avaí 2-1 Goiás
Barueri 0-0 Santos
Sport Recife 2-0 Corinthians
Grêmio 2-0 Coritiba
Fluminense 2-2 Internacional
Palmeiras 0-2 Flamengo
Cruzeiro 1-0 Botafogo
Vitória 3-1 Náutico
Atlético Paranaense 3-0 Santo André

It would seem most of the top teams are stumbling as we get to the business end of the season in Brazil. Again the top two lost with only Atlético-MG of the leading pack winning as Flamengo make a late run for a Copa Libertadores spot.

We started at the Morumbi on Saturday night where second took on fourth and thanks to a well known internet site, I settled down to watch the game. There was a large following from Atlético-MG and they has plenty to celebrate when Diego Tardelli's 15th goal of the season with just 67 seconds on the clock settled things. He was left unmarked at the back post and slotted past Rogerio Ceni. Avaí's great debut season in Série A continued as they came from behind to defeat Goiás. Leandro Euzebio put Goiás ahead in the 13th minute but Avaí again showed their second half fighting spirit when Leo Gago levelled 7 minutes into the second half and Marquinhos claimed the points 8 minutes later. There were no goals in the Paulista derby between Barueri and Santos, but the visitors were reduced to 10 when Kléber Pereira was dismissed with 15 minutes to go.

Sport continued their recent good run with a comfortable victory over Corinthians at Ilha do Retiro. Juan Carlos Acre put the home side ahead 9 minutes before half time before Wilson secured the points with a second half way through the second half. Grêmio's marvellous home form continued when they picked up their 11th home win of the season against Coritiba. Edixon Perea put Grêmio ahead bang on half time before Souza's 11th of the season wrapped things up 8 minutes from time. Fluminense's desperate battle against the drop continued at the Maracaña after a battling draw with Internacional. Alecsandro's 13th minutes opener for Inter put him in the three way tie at the top of the scoring charts but Gum got Fluminense back in it with an equaliser three minutes before half time. Marquinhos then put Inter back ahead twenty minutes into the second half but a second from Gum, 4 minutes from time rescused what could be a vital point for Fluminense.

After the defeat of São Paulo on Saturday night Palmeiras had the chance to extend their lead to 7 points at the top of the table but they came unstuck against at Flamengo side which is making a late charge for a Libertadores spot. Serbian midfielder Dejan Petkovic was the hero for Flamengo with a goal in each half to lift his team to 5th, a point off a Libertadores spot and a decent outside bet for the title. Wagner Love though missed a penalty for the league leaders who have now lost two straight. Botafogo remain in strife after a goal from Thiago Ribiero on the hour condemned them to defeat against Cruzeiro. The victory lifts Cruzeiro to 7th and an outside chance of scraping into the Libertadores. Náutico remain in trouble after letting a lead slip against Vitória. Burno Miniero continued his recent good run of form by putting Náutico ahead a minute into the second half. It all went wrong through on the hour when Vágner Silva was shown a straight red card. Vitória took immediate advantage when Leandrao levelled a minute later. Vitória piled on the pressure and Náutico cracked 8 minutes from time, Leandrao getting a second before Jackson put the icing on the cake in injury time.

Santo André are looking doomed. Since a promising start they've only picked up 15 points out of a possible 60 and Atlético-PR were the latest team to benefit. After a promising start Santo André shipped two goals inside a minute, firstly Paulo Baier put Atlético-PR ahead with 26 minutes on the clock and Alex Sandro doubled the advantage a minute later. There was no way back into the game for Santo André and Marcinho hammered the final nail into the coffin just beyond the hour to leave Santo André in 18th and Atlético-PR seemingly safe with 39 points on the board.

Week 31 begins on Thursday night when Santo André take on leaders Palmeiras in a Paulista derby. The big game of the weekend is in Porto Alegre where the Gre-Nal takes place on Sunday evening. Derbies galore this weekend as Botafogo and Flamengo clash at the Engenhão and Atletico-PR and Coritiba clash as well and just for good measure it's the San-São as well.

Santo André x Palmeiras
Náutico x Barueri
Atlético Miniero x Vitória
Coritiba x Atlético Paranaense
Goiás x Fluminense
Internacional x Grêmio
Santos x São Paulo
Botafogo x Flamengo
Corinthians x Cruzeiro
Avaí x Sport Recife