Brazil’s domestic season is reaching its most gripping stretch, and the international break couldn’t have come at a worse time. Flamengo and Palmeiras made their intentions clear in the latest round, both settling their matches before halftime and keeping the title race tight.
Two favourites, one decisive date
Palmeiras thrashed Remo, while Flamengo beat Grêmio, and the results left the Rio side three points ahead at the top. The stage is now set for a head-to-head showdown at Nubank Park on 21 November. With the remaining fixtures for both clubs considered of similar difficulty, that game could either settle the championship or leave it wide open.
A relegation battle with no safe harbour
While the top of the table is largely decided on the pitch, the fight to avoid the drop is wide open. Clubs from Vasco upwards can already look ahead to the end-of-year celebrations, but five sides are battling to escape the two remaining relegation spots. Chapecoense are mathematically down, and Remo are in serious danger of following them.
Corinthians and Grêmio currently occupy the bottom four, while Internacional, Vitória and Mirassol are also fighting to stay up. Vitória look the most vulnerable at the moment, having suffered a heavy 3-0 home defeat to Fluminense, and they have shown no clear signs of recovery.
Key fixtures in the final rounds
The closing stretch is packed with potential drama. Corinthians host Grêmio, and Grêmio finish at home against Mirassol. Internacional face Vitória at the Beira-Rio. Coritiba, on 42 points, face a demanding run of Santos, Bahia, Flamengo and Palmeiras, and 44 points is widely seen as the likely benchmark for survival.
Yet the Brazilian season will pause for the national team, who face Japan and Singapore during the break. It is a welcome distraction for fans, but with so much at stake in the league, many will find it hard to look away from the domestic action.
Source: ge.globo.com
