Whatever happened to Adryan?

As a teenager, he was compared to Zico and tipped for superstardom.

But now, aged 25, former Flamengo forward Adryan finds himself at a rather lower altitude. After an up-and-down jaunt around Europe, he is back in Brazil – not at one of the country's big clubs, but in the second division.

What went wrong for him? Was it a question of talent or attitude? And did that 'new Zico' tag weigh heavily on his young shoulders?

Answers to those questions on more in a piece with Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay for The Athletic. Read it here. 

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How "beautiful madman" Jorge Jesus brought the good times back to Flamengo – and shook up Brazilian football

Flamengo have spent the majority of 2019 being rightly celebrated as their continent’s most entertaining side — a pulse-quickening concoction of slick collectivism and individual talent.

“An historic team,” former Brazil striker Tostao has called them, and a glance at the final Brazilian league table only rams home the point. Palmeiras have, objectively, one of the best squads assembled by a South American club in the modern era. Santos, led by Jorge Sampaoli, had a heartening campaign. Flamengo finished 16 points ahead of them both.

To say that Jorge Jesus has had a transformative effect on the club would be to undersell his impact by an order of magnitude. While the foundations were in place before his arrival in June, the Portuguese has crafted a daring, cohesive side, and imbued it with belief.

Read my piece on Brazil's best team on The Athletic. 

Burnt by his first European adventure, Gabigol is restoring his reputation in Brazil, the only way he knows how

If you've watched Flamengo recently, you'll have notice the placards, lovingly whipped up at kitchen tables around the city with felt-tip feeling.

“Hoje tem gol do Gabigol,” they read. Gabigol is going to score today.

He probably is, you know, but we’ll return to that in a moment. Because chances are that you’ve heard that name before. Maybe you played Football Manager five or six years ago. Maybe you really, really wanted to know who the next cab off the Santos academy rank was going to be.

Chances are, too, that you lost sight of his immense potential shortly afterwards. That would be perfectly excusable. For a while, he lost sight of it himself.

Now, though? Now he's back in the groove.

Read my piece on Gabigol's renaissance at Flamengo on The Athletic.

A year of Vinícius Júnior: How has the Flamengo starlet done since Real Madrid paid €45million for his services?

"He's in the eye of the storm," said former Brazil full-back Júnior. "Everything he does is being blown out of proportion."

He was speaking about Vinícius Júnior, the Flamengo youngster bought by Real Madrid a year ago today. A €45million transfer fee is always likely to bring added scrutiny, but the effect is multiplied when you're just 17 years old.

Yet despite the odd controversy (hi, Botafogo fans!), Vinícius has been making fairly steady progress since the deal was confirmed, growing in stature and winning himself plenty of admirers.

For FourFourTwo, I look at the teenager's first year as a professional and assess his readiness to make an impact in Europe.

Flamengo may be homeless, but they can smell another Brazilian title with 'Ricardiola' at the helm

They haven't been able to play matches at the Maracanã all year, due to the Olympics and Paralympics. But that has not stopped Flamengo feeling right at home wherever they have travelled this term.

For with brilliant former youth team coach Zé Ricardo in the dugout, the Rubro-Negro have captured the hearts and minds of Fla fans throughout Brazil, many of whom have flocked to see them in 'home' games in São Paulo, Brasília and Natal.

Palmeiras continue to set the pace in Série A but there is a growing feeling that the Rio giants might just be able to overhaul them to secure an unexpected title. As their supporters would have it, the 'cheirinho de hepta' is in the air.

In my latest for WhoScored, I take a look at Flamengo's surge and Zé Ricardo's ability to squeeze performances out of previously unloved players.

Eduardo da Silva proving in Brazil that his finishing powers remain undimmed

Whisper it quietly, but it is perhaps indicative of the global standing of the Campeonato Brasileiro that players can thrive there long after they hit the proverbial wall in Europe. A fading Ronaldinho? Amazing in Brazil. Kaká, years after his peak? Doing really well, thank you very much.

The trend is testament to the fact that quickness of thought can compensate for ageing legs, particularly in a league that struggles to produce cerebral, tactically-astute players. A little bit of nous gleaned from European football, allied with technical quality, is usually enough to allow a player to stand out in Brazil.

Most appear to enjoy being the big fish in a small pond. But the recent form of one man also shows that the Brasileirão can also be a fruitful hunting ground for those who tend to prefer the quiet life.

In my latest column for WhoScored, I look at the recent form of former Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva. Read it here.

Austerity measures: Flamengo look to get back on even keel with frugal new president

If you've cast even the most half-hearted eye over these pages in the last... well, ever, you'll know that drama has followed Flamengo round like a bad smell in recent years. And not just drama either; a recent audit revealed that the Rio club has debts totalling R$750million (£225million) – a colossal figure in anyone's book.

Much of the recent strife coincided with the presidency of Patrícia Amorim, a plucky former Olympic swimmer whose knack for pulling off PR coups was not matched by her political or financial savvy. In my latest article for When Saturday Comes, I look at the demise of her reign and detail the ways in which her successor, Eduardo Bandeira de Mello, is attempting to reshape the club along more economically responsible lines.

The July 2013 issue is available now from places that sell magazines, and from the WSC website.

NB - Since I submitted the article Flamengo have sacked coach Jorginho, whose work I praised generously. Time makes fools of us all.

Five storylines to follow in Brazil's state championships

Brazilian football is back! After a long, gruelling wait roughly five weeks, the dust has settled on the 2012 season and Corinthians, Fluminense et al have to go out there and earn their stripes all over again. Luckily, for the first few weeks at least, 'out there' remains pretty local; yes, this is state championship season.

Aware that not everybody goes gaga for the whole really-big-teams-playing-really-tiny-teams-for-four-months schtick, I've picked out five storylines that should interest even those sceptical of the value of these regional competitions.

You can read the article at Unibet by clicking here.

(Photo credit: Sergio Barzaghi, Gazeta Press.)

On Ronaldinho's Dramatic Exit from Flamengo

It's been a torrid few days at Flamengo. Ronaldinho - ostensibly the team's biggest star following his transfer from Europe last year - left the club in a tornado of accusations over his wages and on-pitch displays. His brother and agent, meanwhile, was busy making a fool of himself at the club shop.

In my début article for ESPN Soccernet, I take a look at the dramatic denouement of the 32-year-old's stay in Rio. I argue that R10's treatment by the club and third-party investors Traffic should be viewed as a(nother) warning sign for players in Brazil.

You can read the article here.

(Photo credit: VIPCOMM.)

A$$is Rides Again

At around 5pm on Tuesday, a familiar figure walked into the Flamengo club shop. Assis, the agent and brother of Ronaldinho Gaúcho, appeared to be doing some gift shopping.

But things were not as they initially seemed. After piling around 40 items - including club jerseys, hats and baby clothing - into his trolley, Assis proceeded to make an announcement to shocked onlookers. "Flamengo haven't paid my brother," he uttered clearly, "so I'm not going to pay either." Intending to leave without paying for the merchandise, he demanded plastic bags to help him lift the loot.

A member of staff, understandably baffled by events, challenged the agent, who then called Fla director of finance Michel Levy. Around ninety (!) minutes later, with Levy having come to the scene of the almost-crime, it was decided that Assis could take 25 Flamengo shirts - the number to which Levy was entitled through his role at the club - without paying for them.

You'd think this would have satisfied Assis, but apparently not. The 41-year-old grabbed two more items: towels emblazoned with the image of his brother. He then - brilliantly - paid for the towels (!!) and left.

All in a day's work for the man nicknamed A$$is by some typographically-minded soul.

More Money, More Problems: Ronaldinho's Wage Wrangles With Traffic

Ronaldinho's return to Brazil has not been an easy one. Whilst he is probably accustomed to abuse from opposition fans and questions over his form and fitness, this past year has presented a new set of problems. A deal that saw marketing firm Traffic agree to pay around 75% of his wages broke down in 2011, culminating in Ronaldinho finding himself over £1 million out of pocket by January this year.


An article of mine, discussing the messy affair, appears in the April edition of When Saturday Comes. The magazine, which also feature's articles by SKP faves Andy Brassell, Gary Andrews, Matthew Barker, is available now at all good (and probably some mediocre) newsagents, and can also be ordered online from the WSC website. Happy reading!

Libertadores Preview

The group stages of the Copa Libertadores kick off tonight, to the considerable delight of fans around the continent. South America's greatest club competition continues to hold considerable allure, uniting a range of footballing cultures as distinguished as they are distinct.


With Brazil represented by no fewer than six teams in this year's edition, I though it worthwhile to preview the competition from a Brazilian perspective. At least three Brazilian clubs, I suggest, will have realistic pretensions of lifting the trophy come July. (Although I don't actually name which three... so, for the record: Santos, Inter, Corinthians.)

The article can be found on the ever-excellent In Bed With Maradona, and by clicking here.

This One's for You, Doutor: Corinthians Seal Fifth Brazilian Title on Tense Final Day

With clenched fists raised skyward, the Corinthians faithful paid tribute to their fallen idol. Doutor Sócrates, that benchmark of humanity (and human excess) had taken his final breath on the morning of the Brazilian championship's final act. The simple gesture that took place at the Pacaembu brought a tear to the eye of the most hardened observer, and spoke volumes about the esteem in which the former seleção great was held. Further soul-searching, however, would have to wait: the Timão had business to attend to...

Corinthians 0-0 Palmeiras
Vasco da Gama 1-1 Flamengo
On a Sunday replete with derby matches, the league leaders hosted Palmeiras, hoping to secure local bragging rights as well as the Série A title. Vasco, who just about managed to keep their title hopes alive the previous weekend, could at least rely on Luiz Felipe Scolari's side to put up a decent fight in São Paulo. The task facing the Gigante da Colina, however, proved insurmountable.

É campeão! Corinthians players celebrate their title win.

Despite taking the lead through Diego Souza, Vasco never truly clicked into gear against Fla. The absences of Juninho Pernambucano and Éder Luís again robbed Cristóvão Borges' side of much of its creativity, leaving Alecsandro marooned in attack for long periods. Flamengo, who had been poor in a scrappy first half, improved significantly after the break. Vanderlei Luxemburgo's decision to introduce Deivid paid immediate dividends: the former Fenerbahçe striker ran onto Ronaldinho's lofted pass before squaring for Renato Abreu to equalise. That strike prompted groans among Vasco fans, many of whom had their ears glued to radios in anticipation of a goal in the Corinthians game.

That a goal never arrived in São Paulo owed more to luck than to judgement: Corinthians looked nervy from the off and soon found themselves pinned back by a wall of green. Palmeiras, inspired by Marcos Assunção and Patrik, worked the ball well in the opening period, coming close to opening the scoring on a handful of occasions. Corinthians were punch drunk, and would need a helping hand from the refereeing gods to recover. Jorge Valdivia's challenge on Jorge Henrique just after the interval was clumsy rather than dangerous, but earnt the Chilean an early bath.

Even with a numerical disadvantage, Palmeiras continued to cause problems: Fernandão's clever header rattled back off the woodwork with Júlio César beaten, before Luan blasted over a presentable chance from the rebound. That was just about the last notable action of the game. Or rather, the last notable footballing action...

Quase: Vasco's bullet train stopped just short on Sunday.

Stereotypes can be vicious, harmful things. They can ruin reputations, hurt innocent parties, and obscure objective fact. Sometimes, however, they're totally accurate. The following statement is one such instance.

Important football matches in South America always (always, of course, is stereotype shorthand for sometimes) descend into violence.

It started with Corinthians defender Wallace, who was sent off for clattered Maikon Leite with a reckless lunge. (The latter has reason to be wary of such challenges, having spent months recovering from a horrifying knee injury in 2009. Warning - do not Google this image if you are of a sensitive disposition. Seriously.)

Then the real fun started. Having already contributed to Valdivia's dismissal, Jorge Henrique decided to really make the pantomime villain role his own, sparking a mass brawl by indulging in one of the dummy air-kicks made (in)famous by none other than Valdivia himself. The denouement? Red cards for João Vitor and Leandro Castán, and a likely knighthood for Jorge Henrique from the República Popular do Corinthians.

Not wanting to be outdone, the clássico carioca served up some indiscipline of its own. Renato Abreu received a second yellow card for diving and launched into an incredible tirade against the referee. Only the diligence of his teammates stopped the dispute descending into violence, with the incandescent Renato grappling to land a blow on the official. (The decision to dismiss the midfielder, incidentally, was spot on.)

All this nonsense ate up much of the time remaining in both matches. The final whistle blew in Rio, spelling the end of Vasco's title challenge, but the mood at the Engenhão remained one of proud celebration. Although their side came up short, the vascaínos present saluted their players for their efforts throughout the campaign. This has been a fantastic year for the Gigante da Colina, who picked up the Copa do Brasil title and reestablished themselves among the country's elite. They will expect to challenge again next term.

Corinthians president Andrés Sánchez (left) salutes coach Tite.

The major celebrations, though, were happening in São Paulo. Corinthians celebrated their fifth national title in fine style, fully justifying their banda de loucos ('group of madmen') nickname. Coach Tite, who has gradually won over the Fiel after a shaky start, was at the centre of the action, grinning from ear to ear in his Lothario-esque black shirt. This success owes much to his quietly forceful style, which has been reflected in his side's performances in the second half of the campaign. Although by no means head and shoulders above some of the competition's other outfits, Corinthians displayed the mettle and the consistency required to grind things out. They are, without doubt, worthy champions. Somewhere, a scruffy-looking philosopher of the game is smiling.

Brasileirão Gameweek 38 Round-up
Fluminense ended their campaign with a 1-1 draw against rudderless Botafogo, thus securing a respectable third-placed finish. Fred was on target once more for the Tricolor, but just fell short of Borges' haul of 23 goals this season. The latter, along with the majority of Santos' first choice eleven, was rested for the derby clash with São Paulo. Emerson Leão's charges ended a topsy-turvy year on a high note, romping to a 4-1 win in Mogi Mirim. Luís Fabiano bagged a brace in that one, and will likely be a crucial figure for São Paulo in 2012.

A penalty from Andrés D'Alessandro gave Internacional a narrow win over Grêmio, a result that puts them into next season's Libertadores. Figueirense and Coritiba, both of which were in with a chance of qualifying for the competition, dropped points against Atlético-PR and Avaí respectively. The latter two clubs will play in Série B next season along with Ceará (who lost to Bahia) and América-MG (who were thrashed by Atlético-GO).

Cruzeiro, who were hovering above the relegation zone before the final round, secured their top flight status in some style, beating bitter rivals Atlético-MG 6-1 at the Arena do Jacaré. Their final league position (16th), however, will hardly fill the Raposa faithful with pride: this was a side that started the year in imperious form, and was tipped by many to be title contenders. They will hope for much better next year.

Série A results: Corinthians 0-0 Palmeiras, São Paulo 4-1 Santos, Internacional 1-0 Grêmio, Cruzeiro 6-1 Atlético-MG, Atlético-GO 5-1 América-MG, Atlético-PR 1-0 Coritiba, Bahia 2-1 Ceará, Avaí 1-1 Figueirense, Botafogo 1-1 Fluminense, Vasco 1-1 Flamengo.

(Photo credits: (1) Nike, (2) Marco Terranova, (3) Marcos Ribolli.)

Grêmio Enjoy Ronaldinho Revenge; Neymar Hits Four in Santos Stroll

With such an exciting title race taking shape, many (huge) clubs have been forced to content themselves with bit-part roles in the recent narrative of the Campeonato Brasileiro. This was the week that two of them reclaimed centre stage. On Saturday night, Santos (and one particular extravagantly-coiffured striker) hit the headlines thanks to an impressive win over Atlético Paranaense. Even they were eclipsed, however, by events in Porto Alegre...

Grêmio 4-2 Flamengo
"Don't throw coins at Ronaldinho: he'll only start collecting them," read one hand-made sign. Hundreds of others simply bore the words "crook" and "mercenary." Some pioneering fans even went to the effort of printing fake 100-real notes with a familiar buck-toothed face on them. For Grêmio fans, this was personal. For Ronaldinho Gaúcho, it was a weekend to forget.

Not a flattering portrayal.

Some of this anger, of course, has rested dormant since the playmaker's acrimonious departure from the club decade ago. Under the perennial influence of brother/agent/puppet master (delete as appropriate) Assis, Ronaldinho forced through a transfer to Paris St. Germain, despite having repeatedly stating his desire to stay at Grêmio. The intervening years took the edge off much of the ire directed at the player, meaning that the news that Ronaldinho was returning to Brazil was greeted with significant excitement among gremistas earlier this year. If he's coming back, they thought, he'll come back to us.

But he didn't.

Ronaldinho chose Flamengo. Ostensibly for their enormous fan base, but actually for the beaches, the night life, the glamour of Rio de Janeiro. This was a devastating snub; not just to Grêmio, but also to Rio Grande do Sul - one of the state's most famous sons had turned his back on his homeland in favour of the cidade maravilhosa. Gaúchos, renowned for their regional pride, must have wished to delete that suffix from Ronaldinho's monicker.

The 31-year-old, then, entered the Olímpico on Sunday fully aware that the crowd were baying for his blood. All the bluster in the stands would be in vain, however, unless Grêmio delivered on the pitch. Yet home side started poorly; Deivid and Thiago Silva fired the visitors into a commanding lead, whilst Ronaldinho himself rattled the crossbar with a free-kick. When André Lima snatched a goal just before the interval, Grêmio were delighted to even be in contention.

Public enemy; Ronaldinho soaks up the atmosphere at the Olímpico.

Things changed dramatically after the break. Grêmio came flying out of the blocks, and equalised in some style; André Lima nutmegged his marker before slamming home another effort from range. With Vandlerlei Luxemburgo apparently happy to settle for a draw, Fla dropped deeper and deeper, offering precious little going forward. The tactic wouldn't pay off. Grêmio playmaker Douglas curled home a delightful effort to put the hosts ahead, before Miralles wrapped things up in the final stages.

The win, of course, signifies precious little in the context of Grêmio's season - the Tricolor are mid-table mediocrity personified. It will, however, mean the world to the thousands of fans who felt betrayed by a certain globetrotting footballer. This was the day that the gaúchos got their revenge on their one-time idol.

Brasileirão Gameweek 32 Round-up
One craque at least had a rather more enjoyable weekend; Neymar bagged four goals as Santos brushed aside Atlético-PR at the Pacaembu, further boosting his already formidable reputation. The fourth - a trademark slalom run followed by a cool finish - will certainly grace a good few YouTube videos in the coming months. That win sent the Peixe into the top half of the table, just ahead of Coritiba, who picked up a routine win over doomed América Mineiro.

Beijo, me liga: Neymar was nigh-on unplayable against Atlético Paranaense.

At the top of the standings, Vasco's goalless draw with São Paulo allowed Corinthians to return to the summit. The Timão initially fell behind against Avaí, but snatched all three points thanks to goals from Emerson Sheik and Liédson. Botafogo stayed within touching distance with a narrow win over Cruzeiro (no prizes for guessing who scored for O Glorioso in that one), whilst Fluminense battled to a 2-1 victory away to Ceará. That second game was most notable for the nascent partnership between Fred and Rafael Sóbis, which seems to be developing very nicely indeed.

In Florianópolis, Figueirense took another stride towards Libertadores qualification with victory over Bahia. Substitute Fernandes was the hero for the hosts in that one, rifling home two glorious second half efforts to secure the points. In the remaining games, Inter picked up a hard-fought win against Atlético-GO, whilst Atlético Mineiro pulled further away from the dropzone with victory over hapless Palmeiras. An honourable mention goes to Galo striker André, whose deft backheeled assist for Fillipe Soutto's goal was the weekend's best.

Série A results: Santos 4-1 Atlético-PR, Botafogo 1-0 Cruzeiro, Ceará 1-2 Fluminense, Corinthians 2-1 Avaí, Vasco 0-0 São Paulo, Grêmio 4-2 Flamengo, Figueirense 2-1 Bahia, Atlético-MG 2-1 Palmeiras, Coritiba 3-1 América-MG, Atlético-GO 0-1 Internacional.

(Photo credits: (1) & (2) Ricardo Rimoli, (3) Tom Dib.)

Flamengo Win Thriller Against Santos; Late Vasco Goal Pegs Back Bahia

There were goals galore in the midweek Brasileirão fixtures; 30, to be exact, in just 9 matches. With leaders Corinthians not in action, São Paulo and Palmeiras both closed the gap at the top with narrow wins. The match of the round, however, undoubtedly took place at the Vila Belmiro.

Santos 4-5 Flamengo
The media build-up to Santos vs. Flamengo bordered on the rabid. Santos' stars returning to club duty after Brazil's disastrous Copa América campaign! Ibson, Deivid, and Vanderlei Luxemburgo facing their former clubs! Neymar and Ronaldinho playing opposite one another for the very first time! Such hyperbole meant that, come kick-off on Wednesday night, expectations were sky high. So often, this kind of hype turns out to be unjustified. But not on this occasion.

Neymaravilha; the Santos youngster celebrates his astounding goal.

Santos started the game in whirlwind fashion; Borges slid home the opener after Elano's perceptive pass, before tapping home another from close range. Neymar, who had set up the second with a sitting-down overhead kick (try working that one out without looking at the highlights reel), then scored a goal of almost indescribable quality. After skipping past two half-hearted challenges on the left wing, the mercurial Mohican swapped passes with Borges, and surged towards the area. Ronaldo Angelim, in the unenviable role of golaço fall-guy, stepped forward to attempt a tackle, but was left humiliated as Neymar slalomed into the box. One cool finish later, and the Vila was in raptures.

The game looked as good as over for Fla. Vanderlei Luxemburgo's charges, however, produced a stirring comeback, managing to draw level even before the half time whistle. Ronaldinho capitalised on a rare fumble from Rafael to give the Rubro-Negro hope, and Thiago Neves nodded home a second from close range. Deivid, who had earlier contrived to miss an open goal from fully 20cm out, then flicked home a Ronaldinho corner to restore parity. The Peixe were reeling, not least because they had wasted another golden opportunity with the score at 3-2; a penalty earnt by Neymar was chipped tamely into the hands of Fla goalkeeper Felipe by Elano. It's been a bad couple of weeks for the former Manchester City player.

Brothers in arms; Ronaldinho and Felipe were both decisive against Santos.

Things slowed down slightly after the interval, but there was still plenty of drama to come. Neymar restored the hosts' lead in the 50th minute, wriggling past his marker and firing high into the roof of the net. This was an important game for the youngster, who reminded the Brazilian public of his undoubted talent after a disappointing set of performances in Argentina. Neymar would, however, be upstaged by another craque, one 12 years his senior. Yes, this was to be Ronaldinho's evening. The buck-toothed wonder bagged his second of the match with a clever free-kick, before finally settling the match with a deflected finish late on. His joyous grin was plastered all over the Brazilian sports pages the following day, accompanied by headlines as varied as "Chupa, Neymar!" ("Suck it, Neymar"), and "Ode ao futebol" ("Ode to football"). This match, one senses, will live long in the memory of most fans of the beautiful game.

Brasileirão Gameweek 12 Round-up
São Paulo, not to be outdone by Fla, scraped victory in a goal-fest of their own, overcoming Coritiba 4-3 at the Couto Pereira. The Tricolor appeared to be hosting their own private goal of the week competition as they raced into a commanding lead; a blast from Carlinhos Paraíba and delightful lobs from Juan and Lucas were bettered only by a ruthless move instigated and finished by Dagoberto. The home side mounted a brave comeback, but just came up short. There was rather less excitement in Ipatinga, where a lone goal from débutant André handed Atlético-MG a much-needed win over Fluminense.

Cruzeiro continue to blow hot and cold; they followed victory over Corinthians last week with defeat at the hands of Atlético Goianiense. A well-taken brace from Felipe did the job for the Dragão, who appear to be finding their feet in Série A. Ceará and Botafogo, two more wonderfully inconsistent sides, both managed 2-1 wins, at home to Atlético-PR and Avaí respectively. Botafogo fans finally witnessed an impressive performance (and a goal) from their idol Maicosuel, who has struggled for form since returning from injury.

O Mago voltou! Maicosuel celebrates a long overdue goal for Fogão.

Whilst other teams draw the headlines, Luiz Felipe Scolari's Palmeiras side continue to go about their business with quiet efficacy. The Verdão managed their seventh win of the campaign this week, beating Figueirense thanks to a scrappy goal from defender Maurício Ramos. That result saw them overtake Vasco, who only managed a point against Bahia. The Gigante da Colina, despite dominating affairs at the São Januário, needed a 95th minute effort from Élton to rescue a draw in that one. Grêmio also had to come from behind against América-MG, in a game that also finished 1-1.

Série A results; Botafogo 2-1 Avaí, Grêmio 1-1 América-MG, Atlético-MG 1-0 Fluminense, Atlético-GO 2-0 Cruzeiro, Santos 4-5 Flamengo, Figueirense 0-1 Palmeiras, Coritiba 3-4 São Paulo, Vasco 1-1 Bahia, Ceará 2-1 Atlético-PR.

(Photo credits; (1) Ivan Storti, (2) Miguel Schincariol, (3) Paulo Sergio.)

Petković Bids Farewell; Inter and Santos Pick Up First Wins

Yes, the seleção were in action on Saturday, but that didn't force a pause in the relentless Brazilian footballing calendar; nine Série A games took place over the weekend. Internacional and Santos both picked up their first wins of the campaign, whilst Palmeiras moved joint top with victory over Atlético-PR. At the Engenhão, meanwhile, Flamengo fans said their goodbyes to a modern icon...

Flamengo 1-1 Corinthians
Think of a Serbian footballer. Any one you like. Got one? OK, now read on. Maybe you went for a current star like Nemanja Vidić, Dejan Stanković, or Branislav Ivanović. Maybe you're a bit older (and/or cooler), and opted for Seniša Mihajlović, Dragan Stojković, or Vladimir Jugović. Maybe you went for someone I've never heard of. Fine. If you're Brazilian, however, one name almost certainly sprang to mind; that of Dejan Petković.

A player who shot to prominence in the early 90s with Red Star Belgrade, Petković (often shortened to 'Pet' in Brazil) has enjoyed a topsy-turvy career. After brief spells at Real Madrid, Sevilla, and Racing Santander, the midfielder crossed the Atlantic to sign for Vitória in 1997. Since then, and despite further sojourns in China and Saudi Arabia, Pet has become a fixture in Brazilian football; appearing for seven different sides in his adopted nation. One of those clubs, however, will remember him with particular warmth.

Pet salutes the Flamengo fans for the final time.

Pet commenced his first spell at Flamengo at the turn of the millennium, after failing to impress at Italian side Venezia. The Serbian's all-action style quickly won him a place in the hearts of most Flamenguistas, and helped Fla to the 2000 Campeonato Carioca. Any remaining doubters were silenced one year later, in one of the stand-out moments of Petković's career. Flamengo and Vasco were tied at 3-3 in the dying minutes of the Rio state championship final, when the Rubro-Negro were awarded a free-kick thirty yards from goal. The gringo stepped up, curling an impeccable effort just beyond the reach of the despairing Helton. Flamengo had won the tricampeonato (three successive titles); Petković was the hero.

Returning to the club in 2009, Pet showed himself to be effective even in the twilight of his career; his dynamism and dead-ball prowess were vital as Fla claimed their first national league title for 17 years. That campaign proved to be a swansong; Petković was used sparingly last season, prompting his decision to retire midway through the current year. On Sunday, the 38-year-old bowed out in dignified fashion; he started his final game for the Rio giants against bitter rivals Corinthians.

Goodbye, Brazilian style; supporters at the Engenhão pay tribute to Petković.

The fans at the Engenhão did the veteran proud, unveiling an enormous mosaico and waving countless banners in tribute to their idol. The game itself started at a rollicking pace, and Corinthians took an early lead; in-form striker Willian applied the finishing touch after a nice run by Weldinho. Flamengo gradually grew into the game, and snatched an equaliser just before the interval; a thirty yard free-kick was smashed home by... Renato Abreu. Someone sack the scriptwriters.

As planned, Petković was replaced at half time; Vanderlei Luxemburgo brought on Negueba, a man of (literally) half the Serbian's age. The chances, however, dried up somewhat; Ronaldinho drilled a shot against the post in the best attacking action of the half. The full time whistle went, leaving Pet to bid an emotional farewell to the Flamengo fans. He will be fondly remembered by most football fans in Brazil.

Brasileirão Gameweek 3 Round-up
Both Santos and Internacional secured maximum points for the first time this season, beating Avaí and América Mineiro respectively. Débutant Borges was on target twice for Santos, whilst young midfielder Oscar plundered a brace for Inter. Newly-promoted Figueirense continued their impressive start to the season, beating Atlético-GO 2-0 at the Orlando Scarpelli.

In a fateful piece of scheduling, Coritiba hosted Vasco in a match sandwiched between the two legs of their Copa do Brasil final. With both clubs fielding reserve teams, it was the Coxa who came out on top, picking up a convincing 5-1 win. Anderson Aquino was the star of the show, bagging a first half hat trick. Coritiba's local rivals Atlético Paranaense, meanwhile, fell to a third successive defeat; a Chico header gave Palmeiras all three points at the Canindé.

Chico time; the Palmeiras man celebrates his goal against Atlético-PR.

Rafael Moura struck twice for Fluminense, as they battled to victory over Cruzeiro on Saturday night. That result leaves the Raposa (my tip for the title) in the bottom four after the opening three rounds. Thank goodness I'm not a betting man. Elsewhere, Botafogo claimed a useful draw away to Ceará, and Grêmio beat Bahia. The tenth match of the round takes place on Wednesday night, when Atlético Mineiro host São Paulo.

Série A results; Palmeiras 1-0 Atlético-PR, Fluminense 2-1 Cruzeiro, Ceará 2-2 Botafogo, Figueirense 2-0 Atlético-GO, Flamengo 1-1 Corinthians, Grêmio 2-0 Bahia, Coritiba 5-1 Vasco, Santos 3-1 Avaí, América-MG 2-4 Internacional.

(Photo credits; (1) André Durão, (2) Paulo Sérgio, (3) Ari Ferreira.)

Ronaldinho Inspires Fla to Opening Day Win; São Paulo Overcome Reigning Champions Fluminense

The 2011 Campeonato Brasileiro got underway at the weekend, just over five months since the conclusion of the previous edition. With many of the supposed favourites for the title fluffing their opening lines, it was Flamengo who made the biggest splash; the Rubro-Negro thrashed Avaí in this week's featured game.

Flamengo 4-0 Avaí
Patience, they say, is a virtue. Not that Flamengo would know; the power-brokers at the Rio club have become infamous in recent times for their rash decisions and short-term thinking. (The sacking of Andrade just weeks after he guided them to the 2009 Série A title provides a telling case in point.) There are signs, however, that the Rubro-Negro may finally be learning the value of playing the long game.

Despite the marquee signing of Ronaldinho, Flamengo's Campeonato Carioca victory was achieved largely thanks to the pragmatism of coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo; the former Real Madrid man formed a robust unit which ground down opponents, rather than blowing them away. Previously, such (occasionally insipid) displays may have drawn the ire of Fla's hierarchy and fans, desperate for a stylish, all-conquering team. Any talk of a "bedding-in" period would have been given short shrift at Gávea; this is usually a club that wants it all, and wanted it yesterday.

Ronaldinho celebrates his goal with Egídio.

Thankfully, Luxa has been granted more time than some of his predecessors; a strategy that started to pay off on Saturday. Hosting Avaí in Macaé (a seaside town located nearly 200km from Rio itself), Flamengo turned in an attacking display full of movement, skill, and nuance, one which proved more than sufficient to see off the Leão da Ilha. Particularly impressive was Ronaldinho, who looked twice the player that had slumbered through the state championships. The buck-toothed forward played an instrumental role, scoring Fla's second with a curling effort, and setting up Diego Maurício for the fourth.

Also effective were Darío Bottinelli and Thiago Neves, both of whom also got their names on the scoresheet; the former finished with ease from close range, and the latter rounded off a fine break involving young striker Wanderley. The scoreline may have flattered Fla slightly - Avaí certainly provided a threat in the first half, and were unlucky not to score through Rafael Coelho - but the home fans will be buoyant; it appears that the wait for their side to produce exciting attacking football may be over.

Brasileirão Gameweek 1 Round-up
Saturday evening also saw good wins of Atlético Mineiro and Vasco da Gama, who overcame Atlético-PR and Ceará respectively. Those games were graced by braces from players at either end of the age spectrum; veteran Magno Alves struck twice for the Galo, and 21-year-old Bernardo matched that feat for Vasco. In Saturday's late kick-off, a Santos side shorn of its star players battled to a 1-1 draw with Internacional.

Palmeiras got their season off to a good start with victory over Botafogo; a lone Kléber strike proved sufficient at the Benedito Teixeira. Two of the country's form teams, meanwhile, both slipped to surprising defeats; Coritiba were beaten by Atlético Goianiense and Cruzeiro went home empty-handed from their trip to play newly-promoted Figueirense. América Mineiro also picked up a win on their return to the division; a late Alessandro goal gave them a win over Bahia. In Porto Alegre, Liédson's acrobatic finish handed Corinthians maximum points from their game with Grêmio.

Levitate me; Liédson volleys home for Corinthians.

Reigning champions Fluminense hosted São Paulo at the São Januário, hoping to start the campaign on the front foot. The visitors had other ideas, however, and took the lead through Dagoberto; the diminutive striker blasted a shot into the roof of the net following Casemiro's excellent pass. Short on inspiration, Flu conceded another just after the interval; Lucas skipped free on the left, before cutting inside and firing past Ricardo Berna. The result will provoke some concern at Laranjeiras, but will serve as a huge boost for São Paulo boss Paulo César Carpegiani; he was sacked last week, but reinstated when club directors realised that they couldn't identify a viable alternative. It seems odd to say this, given the long-standing reputations of the two clubs, but maybe São Paulo should take a leaf out of Flamengo's book.

Série A Results; Flamengo 4-0 Avaí, Ceará 1-3 Vasco, Atlético-MG 3-0 Atlético-PR, Santos 1-1 Internacional, Palmeiras 1-0 Botafogo, Grêmio 1-2 Corinthians, Coritiba 0-1 Atlético-GO, Figueirense 1-0 Cruzeiro, Fluminense 0-2 São Paulo, América-MG 2-1 Bahia.

(Photo credits; (1) Alexandre Vidal, (2) Ricardo Rimoli.)

Unbeaten Flamengo Overcome Botafogo in Clássico; Santos Keep Libertadores Hopes Alive

Despite not producing the attacking brilliance that some may have expected in the wake of Ronaldinho's arrival, Flamengo have established themselves as a robust force this year. Sunday's derby win over Botafogo was their 18th game of the season, and the Rubro-Negro have yet to taste defeat. In the Campeonato Paulista, Palmeiras and São Paulo pulled away at the head of the table after Corinthians and Santos dropped points. The latter, though, managed an impressive Libertadores win over Cerro Porteño, a result which keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Botafogo 0-2 Flamengo

There is, in the eyes of many Flamengo fans, one piece of the jigsaw missing. Decent goalkeeper? Check. Solid defence? Check. Combative ball-winners? Check. Attacking midfielders? Check, check, write another cheque. A striker to provide a focal point? Oh. Oh dear. Diego Maurício, a promising young forward, seems unable to cement his place as a titular, whilst Wanderley seems to have been discarded after an impressive pre-season. The incumbent, meanwhile - former Fenerbahçe hitman Deivid - has flattered to deceive since his arrival last year, and must realise that he is just keeping the seat warm for someone more lethal.

That man, provided the Rubro-Negro commercial machine continues to purr, is likely to be Vágner Love; a striker who accumulated plenty of goals during his last spell at Gávea. Love has recently restated his desire to return to Flamengo later in the year, and is hopeful that current club CSKA Moscow facilitate the move. In the meantime, Fla will have to hobble on with their awkward blunt attack.

Ganhando sem freio; Flamengo celebrate Thiago Neves' second.

It is a testament to Flamengo's fighting spirit, then (or perhaps to the poverty of competition within the Campeonato Carioca), that they remain on course to finish unbeaten in the state championship. With no player racking up the goals, many of their victories this year have been obtained thanks to opportunist strikes from their stable of attacking midfielders; Ronaldinho, Renato Abreu and Thiago Neves have often been decisive for Vanderlei Luxemburgo's side. So it proved on Sunday against Botafogo; a relatively dull affair was settled by a Thiago strike either side of half time.

While the wait for a star striker continues, then, Fla fans will be largely content in the knowledge that the foundation of a strong team is in place. Despite the absence of an out-and-out goal-getter, the Rubro-Negro have battled to a three-month unbeaten run, and find themselves well placed both in the Carioca and in the Copa do Brasil. Taça na raça indeed.

Campeonato Carioca Round-up

Vasco continue to lead Group A of the Taça Rio, following a narrow win over Cabofriense. New boys Bernardo and Alecsandro were both on target for the Gigante da Colina; the former finished with glorious aplomb in the first half, and the latter tucked home a late penalty to seal the three points. Fluminense, meanwhile, thrashed Americano 5-1 at the Estádio Cláudio Moacyr. Araújo bagged a brace for the Tricolor, but the pick of the goals came from Darío Conca; the Argentine bent home a glorious free-kick in the opening period.

Campeonato Paulista Round-up

Palmeiras were without talismanic striker Kléber for their clash with Grêmio Prudente, but did enough to grind out a 2-0 victory. Defender Thiago Heleno put the Verdão ahead, before a late Douglas own goal thwarted any hopes Prudente had of a comeback. São Paulo were somewhat more emphatic, putting five past struggling Noroeste. Rogério Ceni claimed his sixth goal of the year from the penalty spot, and there were also goals for Marlos, Dagoberto, and Ilsinho.

Adriano was presented to the Corinthians fans ahead of their tie with São Caetano, but it would be another striker who stole the headlines at the Pacaembu; Éduardo scored twice for the visitors, condemning the Timão to an unexpected defeat. Santos also lost ground on the leaders; they struggled to a goalless draw with Americana.

Copa Libertadores Round-up

Grêmio had already sealed their place in the knockout stages ahead of Thursday's match against Oriente Petrolero, but will still have been disappointed with a 3-0 loss. The Tricolor will hope that the last 16 draw doesn't give them reason to regret their performance in Bolivia. Cruzeiro picked up their second win over Estudiantes in the group stages, romping to a 3-0 win in La Plata. In-form attackers Thiago Ribeiro and Wallyson put the Raposa in charge, before ex-Tottenham Hotspur utility man Gilberto completed the scoring.

Maikon Leite celebrates his goal against Cerro. Paraguayan security guards not impressed.

Santos travelled to Paraguay knowing that anything less than a win against Cerro Porteño would have severe implications for their hopes of progressing to the oitavas. The Peixe's task was rendered even more difficult by the absence of their three standout performers this term; Neymar, Zé Éduardo, and Elano were all suspended following dismissals against Colo-Colo. Nerves were settled early on when Brazil U20 star Danilo crashed home an unstoppable effort from 25 yards, and the quicksilver Maikon Leite doubled Santos' lead just after the break. Pedro Benítez reduced the arrears in injury time, but Muricy Ramalho's side held on for a deserved victory on the day of the club's 99th anniversary.

Copa do Brasil Round-up

Goals from Dedé, Alecsandro, and Bernardo gave Vasco da Gama a comfortable win over Náutico in the first leg of their last 16 tie; the perfect birthday present for club president Roberto Dinamite. Palmeiras also boosted their hopes of progress to the quarter finals with a 2-1 win away to Santo André. Avaí held Botafogo to a 2-2 draw at the Engenhão, while Atlético Paranaense drew 1-1 with Bahia at the latter's Pituaçu stadium.

Paraná club Coritiba (confusingly hailing from a city called Curitiba) will also fancy their chances of reaching the last 8, after an impressive 4-0 win over Caxias. Incredibly, Thursday's result was the Coxa's 19th consecutive competitive victory; a sequence which leaves them just two wins away from the Brazilian record, held by Palmeiras.

Best of the Rest

It was an eventful week for Internacional; they sacked Celso Roth last Friday, thrashed Canoas 6-2 on Sunday, and appointed club icon Paulo Roberto Falcão as their new coach on Monday. Roth, who guided Inter to the Libertadores last season, had been on shaky ground since the Colorado's disappointing Club World Cup campaign, and is unlikely to be missed by many of the club's fans. Whether Falcão can translate his popularity into managerial success remains to be seen; his last coaching role - with the Japan national team - ended fully 14 years ago.

New Internacional boss Paulo Roberto Falcão.

Selected results. Carioca; Botafogo 0-2 Flamengo, Vasco 2-1 Cabofriense, Americano 1-5 Fluminense. Paulista; Palmeiras 2-0 Grêmio Prudente, Americana 0-0 Santos, Corinthians 1-2 São Caetano, Noroeste 1-4 São Paulo. Libertadores; Oriente Petrolero 3-0 Grêmio, Cerro Porteño 1-2 Santos, Estudiantes 0-3 Cruzeiro.

(Photos credits; (1) Bruno de Lima, (2) Jorge Adorno.)

Ronaldinho Fires Flamengo to Taça Guanabara Title; Santos Sack Batista

Greetings, reader, and welcome to another SKP weekly round-up! There is, as ever, plenty to get through, including Libertadores and Copa do Brasil games, but I'll start in the Rio state championship, where Flamengo gained their first silverware of the year...

Flamengo 1-0 Boavista
Sunday's Taça Guanabara final was a mismatch made in heaven. It pitted Flamengo, the best-supported team in Brazil, against minnows Boavista; a local outfit whose stadium holds just 6,000 people. True, the latter had dumped current Série A champions Fluminense out in the semi-finals, but that was just a fluke, right? Surely they couldn't repeat the trick ? Well no, as it turned out, they couldn't. But Boavista made a decent fist of the match at the Engenhão, ensuring that their fairytale run to the final ended honourably, if not gloriously.

Flamengo, although arousing plenty of excitement with their recent transfer dealings, haven't been playing particularly well; defensive solidity has masked a lack of tactical clarity in attack, whilst Ronaldinho and Thiago Neves have hardly been firing on all cylinders since joining the club. Sunday saw coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo shuffle his pack a little; Ronaldinho played as a nominal striker, with Neves, Renato Abreu, and Darío Bottinelli all providing support from advanced midfield roles.

The experiment didn't really work; Fla struggled to create chances, and flying rightback Léo Moura was, once again, their best attacking outlet. A frustrating first half prompted Luxemburgo to throw on a more orthodox striker after the interval; youngster Guilherme Negueba was preferred to Deivid, who has struggled to impress since arriving from Fenerbahçe last year. The change improved things somewhat, yet Flamengo would ultimately require some dead ball magic to break the deadlock. With 70 minutes played, a foul on Thiago Neves gave Fla a free-kick twenty-five yards from goal. Ronaldinho, seizing the chance to stamp his name on the match, set the ball down before dispatching a glorious effort which nestled into the corner of the net.

Ronaldinho and Willians with the Taça Guanabara trophy.

It would be the last meaningful action of the game, with Boavista unable to pose a real attacking threat, and Fla happy to run down the clock. The final whistle predictably brought crazed celebration from the Rubro-Negro players, who have claimed their first silverware of the season without getting out of second gear. The real winners in all of this, though, one could argue, were the losers; Boavista's first final appearance will likely live long in the memory of their modest fanbase.

Campeonato Paulista Round-up
The weekend's derby game between São Paulo and Palmeiras produced some extraordinary feats of commitment... amongst fans in the stands. Heavy rainfall meant that kick-off was delayed by an hour, but supporters kept themselves busy by splashing and swimming (yes, you did read that correctly) in the flooded upper tiers of the Morumbi stadium. The game, when it finally got underway, was a scrappy one, with both sides guilty of some cynical fouling in the opening period. São Paulo went ahead through Fernandinho's rocket, before the game was delayed once more due to floodlight failure. Palmeiras, who gained a numerical advantage when Alex Silva was sent off for the Tricolor, grabbed a late equaliser through Adriano.

Swimming in the rain; São Paulo fans make the most of a flooded Morumbi.

Corinthians picked up their third successive win, brushing aside Grêmio Prudente at the Pacaembu. There were two more goals in that match for Liédson, who is enjoying a fine start to his his second stint with the Timão. Santos, meanwhile, could only manage a 1-1 draw with São Bernardo, a result that proved to be the final nail in coach Adílson Batista's coffin. The 42-year-old was only in charge of the seasiders for eleven competitive games, yet alienated fans with recent team selections; his decision to leave out form strikers Maikon Leite and Zé Éduardo for two important games (against Táchira and Corinthians) came in for particular criticism. Marcelo Martelotte will act as caretaker boss until a permanent replacement is found.

Copa Libertadores Round-up
It wasn't a great week for Brazilian clubs in continental competition; four of the country's representatives were in action, but only one managed a win. That side was Grêmio, who overcame Léon de Huánuco thanks to goals from André Lima and Borges. Renato Gaúcho's men now lead Group 2, but have played one game more than Junior Baranquilla, who have an equal number of points.

André Lima, the self-styled 'immortal warrior' celebrates his goal for Grêmio.

Santos looked to have got their first win at home to Cerro Porteño, but an injury time Roberto Nanni strike cancelled out Elano's opener. Cruzeiro also drew, but a point on the road against Tolima represents a fairly good result. Both the Peixe and the Raposa will be fairly confident of progress from their respective groups. The same cannot be said, however, of Fluminense; the Rio giants were defeated 1-0 by América at the Azteca stadium, and sit four points adrift of second place after three games. With tricky ties in Argentina and Uruguay yet to come, Flu could well be in trouble.

Copa do Brasil Round-up
Botafogo scraped into the second round of the Brazilian cup, beating minnows River Plate-SE on penalties after drawing 1-1 on aggregate. They were joined on Wednesday by Palmeiras, who thrashed Comercial-PI thanks to four goals from Adriano, a man who goes by the nickname Michael Jackson, due to a (supposed) likeness to the (supposed) king of pop. Atlético Mineiro booked their place in round two with an enormous 8-1 win over Iape-MA, and partial namesakes Atlético Paranaense and Atlético Goianiense also went through. Perhaps the biggest team to get eliminated were Sport Recife, who lost on away goals to Sampaio Corrêa.

Best of the Rest
The final of the Taça Piratini (the first stage of the Campeonato Gaúcho) will see Grêmio face Caxias; the former coasted past Cruzeiro-RS, whilst the latter needed penalties to see off São José-RS. América-MG's 2-1 win over Atlético-MG allowed them to leapfrog the Galo into first place in the Campeonato Mineiro, whilst minnows Criciúma (who, incidentally, I once coached on Football Manager) beat Figueirense to win the first stage of the Santa Catarina state championship. There were also primeiro turno trophies for Coritiba (in the Campeonato Paranaense) and Ceará (in the Campeonato Cearense).

Selected results. Carioca; Flamengo 1-0 Boavista. Paulista; São Paulo 1-1 Palmeiras, Corinthians 4-0 Grêmio Prudente, Santos 1-1 São Bernardo. Libertadores; América 1-0 Fluminense, Grêmio 2-0 Léon de Huánuco, Santos 1-1 Cerro Porteño, Tolima 0-0 Cruzeiro.

(Photo credits; (1) Bruno de Lima, (2) Fernando Pilatos/UOL, (3) EFE.)

New Boys On Target for Fla; Leite Show Gives Santos Flying Start

Welcome, reader to the first of my weekly round-ups in 2011. It's been, for the most start, a fairly subdued start to the state championships, with many of the star attractions (such as Ronaldinho and Neymar) not in action. In the Paulistão, Santos' brilliant start suggests that they will again be the team to beat, whilst São Paulo have also claimed maximum points from the two rounds this week. In Rio, there were victories for three of the big guns, but Vasco already appear on the brink of meltdown after a home loss to Resende.

Flamengo 2-0 Volta Redonda
The signings of Ronaldinho and Thiago Neves, and the attendant media whirlwind, have hiked up the (never insignificant) sense of expectation at Flamengo in recent weeks. With the crushing disappointment of their 2010 campaign seemingly wiped from memory, many expect Fla to be the team to beat in the Rio state championship. Despite the absence of the aforementioned pair, the Rubro-Negro got their campaign got their campaign off to a good start on Wednesday, overcoming Volta Redonda 2-0 at the Engenhão.

Youngster Vander tries to claim the opening goal.

The early stages of the state championships, it must be noted, tend to favour the smaller teams, whose schedules allow them more time to prepare. Voltaço, for instance, who didn't compete in a national tournament in the second half of 2010, had been preparing for the Carioca for over a month, whereas Flamengo had undergone barely two weeks of pre-season training before this clash. The superior fitness level of the Volta players was visible in the early stages, and Fla 'keeper Felipe had to produce a fine save to prevent Lopes opening the scoring.

It was against the run of play, then, that Flamengo took the lead just before the break; Vander burst into the box, dribbled past his marker, and saw his cross canon in via the legs of Volta defender Padovani. The goal capped a fine evening for the 20-year-old, who has looked sharp since joining on loan from Bahia. The hosts' lead was doubled after the interval, when Léo Moura's delightful cross was headed home by another recent acquisition, Wanderley. His phonetic namesake, Fla coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, looked on contentedly for the remainder of the tie, as Fla secured maximum points.

Campeonato Carioca Round-up
Reigning Brasileirão champions Fluminense were without Darío Conca and Emerson for their opening fixture, and were frustrated for long periods by minnows Bangu. Souza, making his first competitive start for Flu since joining from Grêmio, had a bad day; getting himself sent off for two yellow card offences in quick succession. With five minutes remaining, former Lyon striker Fred settled the match, powering home a glorious header from Tartá's perfect cross. Botafogo, meanwhile, came from behind to record a 2-1 win over Duque de Caxias, with 'Loco' Abreu and Caio on the scoresheet.

Right said Fred; the Fluminense hitman is mobbed by teammates.

At the São Januário, Vasco were booed off by their own fans following a humbling loss to Resende. The visitors were on top throughout, and it took a fine performance from Vasco stopper Fernando Prass to keep them out until the 85th minute. Even Prass, however, was helpless to stop Resende's winning goal; some lax marking allowed Alexandro the space to slam a header into the far corner of the net. Vasco boss PC Gusmão has plenty of work to do on this evidence, and his task was further complicated on Thursday with the confirmation that Zé Roberto is joining Internacional. It could be a long season for the Gigante da Colina.

Campeonato Paulista Round-up
Ever keen to get one over on those lazy buggers in Rio, São Paulo crammed two rounds of state championship action into the opening week of the season. The early leaders are Santos, who enjoyed comfortable wins over Linense (4-1) and Mirassol (3-0). With Paulo Henrique Ganso still recovering from a knee injury, and Neymar at the South American Youth Championship (of which more later), the spotlight has fallen on electric attacking pair Zé Éduardo and Maikon Leite, who have bagged three goals apiece. The latter had agreed to join Palmeiras in June, but his exploits this week seem to have encouraged Santos to enter a legal battle for his services. Zé Éduardo, on the other hand, looks to be off to Italy in the near future, with Genoa believed to have had a bid accepted today. Meanwhile, in what nobody is calling "Big Name Player Back in Brazil Watch," Elano made his return to action, picking up an assist and generally impressing against Mirassol.

Santos forward Maikon Leite celebrates his goal against Linense.

Palmeiras and Corinthians, those most bitter of rivals, both managed four points from a possible six this week. The Verdão, whose performance in the 0-0 draw with Botafogo-SP was tepid (to put it politely), recovered some pride with the 4-1 routing of Ituano. Kléber, the budget Brazilian Carlos Tévez, was on target twice for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side. Corinthians ran out comfortable winners over Portuguesa on Sunday, but were held by a determined Bragantino side in midweek. The first game was lit up by a fantastic gol olímpico from Roberto Carlos, who continues to delight well into the twilight of his career.

Speaking of veterans, one of this week's most intriguing stories involves former Barcelona and seleção icon Rivaldo, he of the chiselled jawline and propensity for theatricality. The 38-year-old is currently president of Mogi Morim, and would have played against São Paulo on Sunday if not for the fact that his registration hadn't been cleared on time. Mogi suffered a 2-0 defeat in that game, and if rumours are to be believed, stand to lose plenty more besides. São Paulo, not content with taking three points from their opponents, are reported to be weighing up a transfer bid for Rivaldo himself. The player enjoyed a long reunion with former Brazil teammate (and São Paulo captain) Rogério Ceni after the game, and apparently impressed Tricolor officials with his physical condition (honestly, I'm not making this up). I await further news with bated breath. On the pitch, meanwhile, São Paulo notched up another win on Wednesday, beating São Bernardo thanks to goals from Dagoberto, Marlos, and Fernandinho.

South American Youth Championship
The Brazil U20 side got off to a flyer in Peru, overcoming Paraguay in a pulsating opening tie. The star of the show, predictably enough, was Neymar, who resembled a man among boys, and bagged all four goals in the seleção's 4-2 victory. The fourth goal was the pick of the bunch; a deft left-footed chip over the advancing Paraguay goalkeeper. It wasn't all plain sailing for Brazil; Zé Éduardo (the Parma player, not his Santos namesake) and Henrique were sent off, and coach Ney Franco was sent to the stands for moaning about a refereeing decision.

Hair raising; Neymar has excelled so far in Peru.

The U20s then made it two wins in two on Thursday, with a 3-1 win over Colombia. Despite the final two-goal margin, the Colombians provided a far stiffer challenge for Franco's side, and went into the halftime break on level pegging. Brazil, though, took control in the second period, thanks largely to three São Paulo youngsters; midfielder Casemiro nodded home the opener, and Lucas brilliantly set up Willian José for the second. Cardona tucked away a penalty to give Colombia hope, but Neymar wrapped up the scoring in emphatic style; beating his man and slamming home a shot at the near post.

Best of the Rest
The start of the Campeonato Gaúcho has been particularly muted, with both Grêmio and Internacional fielded weakened sides in the first week. Inter lost 1-0 to Cruzeiro-RS at the weekend, but recovered with a narrow victory over Porto Alegre on Wednesday; Ricardo Goulart bagged the only goal of that game. Perhaps more significant news for the Colorado was the surprising sale of youngster Giuliano, who joined Ukrainian side Dnipro in a €10million deal. Giuliano was one of Inter's best players last term, and many believed that a move to one of Europe's top clubs was well within his grasp. Grêmio, meanwhile, could only manage two draws; 2-2 against Lajaedense (thanks to goals from Jonas and Rafael Marques), and 1-1 against Ypiranga.

Série B champions Coritiba have made a strong start in the Paraná, winning both of their opening games. In the Campeonato Baiano, both Vitória and Bahia suffered opening day defeats, whilst in the Santa Catarina tournament, top flight Avaí sit bottom following consecutive losses. The Campeonato Mineiro, meanwhile, starts this week.

Selected results. Carioca; Flamengo 2-0 Volta Redonda, Vasco 0-1 Resende, Botafogo 2-1 Duque de Caxias, Bangu 0-1 Fluminense. Paulista; Linense 1-4 Santos, Mogi Morim 0-2 São Paulo, Palmeiras 0-0 Botafogo-SP, Corinthians 2-0 Portuguesa, Santos 3-0 Mirassol, São Paulo 3-0 São Bernardo, Bragantino 1-1 Corinthians, Ituano 1-4 Palmeiras. Other; Brazil U20 4-2 Paraguay U20, Brazil U20 3-1 Colombia U20.

(Photo credits; (1) Gilvan de Souza, (2) Cleber Mendes, (3) Ivan Storti, (4) Mowa Press.)