Due to the Brazilian general elections on Sunday, the next round of the Brazilian Serie A will only be played on Wednesday, October 3. However, two games that had been postponed due to the Libertadores Cup final will finally take place this weekend. Sao Paulo travels to Curitiba to face Atletico Paranaense, while Internacional hosts Parana in Porto Alegre.
ATLETICO PARANAENSE x SAO PAULO: With a four-point lead over second-place Gremio, Sao Paulo can increase its safety cushion at the top of the standings with a win over Atletico Paranaense, in the rematch of the 2005 Libertadores Cup final. Atletico is coming off a 1-0 away win over River Plate in the Sudamericana, and wants to defeat the leader here to close the gap to the teams fighting for a Libertadores spot in 2007. Sao Paulo lost to Palmeiras 3-1 on Sunday, and must win to avoid a mini-crisis that could cost the team the lead and ultimately the title in this final run of the season.
Sao Paulo's coach Muricy Ramalho will keep the team playing in the 4-4-2 formation it's used in the last three matches, due to defender Alex Silva being suspended. Fabao and Miranda will be the defenders for this game, with Souza joining the midfield from his usual right-back position. Ilsinho will have another chance at right-back. In attack, Edgard can fill in for Thiago, who will be in the bench, and Aloisio, injured. The young 19-year-old forward joined the team this week, from Serie C's Joinville. The locals are tired from the sequence of matches in the last few weeks, and may miss important right-back Jancarlos, who twisted his right ankle in the match against River. The rest of the team will probably remain the same, but coach Vadao has already said he's likely going to use a defensive formation against Sao Paulo.
INTERNACIONAL x PARANA: Internacional hosts Parana knowing it must win this game at home to keep its title hopes alive. Winless in three matches, the South American champions have fallen eight points behind Sao Paulo, and simply cannot afford to lose more points at home. Parana is back on track having won three of its last four games, after a four-match losing streak earlier in the month, and is now in fifth place, one point behind Inter. Coach Abel is still thinking about his attack, and may want to give youngster Luiz Adriano a chance to play in a forward position with Iarley. In that case, Fernandao will likely be asked to drop back to midfield, in order to strengthen that sector. Parana will be without midfielder Gerson, injured. Full-back Edinho returns after serving a one-game suspension.
Cheers,
Carlos
---
Brazilian Futebol -
http://www.brazilianfutebol.blogspot.com
Brazilian Serie A - Sep 30
TOTW/F/M Award(s): 1
Boavista havent been beaten in their last 10 visits to beleneseseses. sod it ....
