Brasileirao keeps everyone guessing

Brasileirao keeps everyone guessing


The 2011 Brazilian championship has proved to be one of the most unpredictable of recent times, throwing up a succession of surprise results that have confounded the pundits, with more than one title challenge coming unstuck in a frenetic run-in.

As recently as 11 days ago only three points separated the top five teams, with every expectation that the season’s finale would be even more nerve-wracking than in the last two years, when three sides went into the final day still harbouring championship aspirations.

Much has changed since then, however. And the main reason for that has been the spectacular form of America-MG, who have climbed off the bottom of the table by first of all beating leaders Corinthians and then conjuring up two more unlikely wins to spike the title bids of Fluminense and Botafogo.

O Timão promptly recovered their poise with back-to-back victories over Atletico-PR and Ceara, two other teams stuck in the relegation zone. With three games remaining, they hold a two-point lead over Vasco da Gama, who beat Rio rivals Botafogo last weekend, but have themselves been on the end of some shock scorelines, the most notable a 4-1 mauling at the hands of America-MG in September.

Now five points off the pace in third, Flu have been left to rue points dropped against supposedly inferior opposition, while Flamengo and Botafogo, who are both four points further adrift, have similar cause for lament.

Rollercoaster ride
Having burst into title contention with a spectacular run of six wins in eight games as the season entered its second half, Fluminense have better reason than anyone to ponder what might have been. No sooner had they staked their championship claim than they lost 2-0 at home to Atletico-MG in October, compounding the felony by going down 2-1 to America-MG at the Engenhao last Saturday, a result that left coach Abel Braga scratching his head.

“It’s been anything but an ordinary championship,” he said. “Fluminense, Vasco and Botafogo have all had chances to move to the top and pull clear but they haven’t taken them. Sao Paulo have had their opportunities too.”

The loss of form suffered by O Tricolor Paulista has been dramatic to say the least. Firm candidates a few short weeks ago, a slew of draws and defeats to the likes of Goianense and Atletico-PR has seen them drop out of the title running and even lose ground in the race for Copa Libertadores places.

Flamengo have been equally erratic. Buoyed by the arrival of Ronaldinho, O Rubro-Negro led the table in the first half of the season before inexplicably going ten games without a win. Despite recovering some momentum, Fla have run out of steam once again in the final stretch.
It’s been anything but an ordinary championship.
Fluminense boss Abel Braga