Atletico Mineiro made it six consecutive wins as they outclassed Sport Recife to earn a 4-1 victory at the Ilha do Retiro.
Things started well for Sport as Gilberto turned home in the 26th minute after Victor failed to get a hand to former Real Madrid full-back Cicinho's cross. But they could only hold onto the lead for seven minutes as Danilinho pounced on a rebound from Ronaldinho's shot to tuck home the equaliser. From then on it was all Galo, but efforts from Jo, Danilinho and Rever failed to give the visitors the lead. It was not until the hour mark that Atletico finally found the net again and it came after a swift break that saw Bernard set Ronaldinho through and the two-time World Player of the Year bent in his fourth of the season.
Five minutes later the advantage was doubled as Bernard feigned to cross before driving to the byline, where he stood the ball up at the back post and Jo supplied the finishing touch. The 19-year-old Bernard then added a goal of his own, and it was an absolute beauty. From the edge of the box he caught Magrao off his line and lofted an exquisite chip over him and into the far corner to cap a sublime display. Galo became a bit complacent with their lead and allowed Sport more of the ball in the closing stages but they could find no more consolation.
Atletico remain on top of the Brasileiro, though many are wondering how long they can keep up such good form. Following their second consecutive loss, Sport drop to 13th and possess one of the leakiest defences in the competition.
Palmeiras picked up their first win since lifting the Copa do Brasil trophy as they beat a disappointing Nautico 3-0 at the Arena Barueri.
Making his first start since returning to Brazilian football, Obina seemed to strike up an excellent partnership with Mazinho in attack as the Verdao dominated proceedings. The pair combined early on with the former finding the net only to see it chalked off for offside. Obina did open his Palmeiras account moments later, though, as he rifled home from Joao Vitor's through-ball in the 19th minute. Nautico responded positively but after being thwarted by Bruno, they found themselves further behind as Obina turned provider with a pinpoint cross that was tapped in by Mazinho with 30 minutes played.
Before the half was out Felipe did well to claw away a curled effort by Jorge Valdivia as Palmeiras continued to keep the pressure on. Shortly after the break the hosts got their third with a rapid counterattack that almost finished with Obina grabbing his second, but his shot bounced off the post and Marcio Araujo was in position to tuck away the loose ball. It could have been four had Mazinho finished from within the six-yard box but some last-ditch defending from the visitors ensured he would not score his second.
Luiz Felipe Scolari will have been delighted with his team's display as they finally moved out of the relegation zone and up to 14th. They are now three places behind Nautico, who will rely on their home form for the majority of their points.
Construction work continues at the Beira-Rio but new coach Fernandao laid down the building blocks for a solid start to his tenure with the Colorado, seeing his team take the lead in the 20th minute. Dagoberto clipped a fantastic pass forward to Elton who took one touch before stabbing the ball past Marcio. Eight minutes later though the Brasileiro's bottom side drew level as Renie bundled a corner over the line. Inter continued to pepper the opposition goal with shots but Fred and Jaja failed to work the keeper, with Elton's tame shot their best effort of the half.
Fernandao clearly said the right things at half-time as within two minutes of the restart his team had taken charge of the game when Dagoberto poked home from Fabricio's cross. Elton came close twice more but it was Jaja who would eventually add to the hosts' advantage as he slid home after Fred launched a counter from within his own half. And it was Fred who completed the scoring as he pierced through the heart of the Dragao defence and bent a low effort past Marcio that nestled in the bottom corner.
In seventh place, the win keeps Inter in touch with the teams at the top, while Atletico remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just five points to their name so far.
Santos remain with just one win this season as they suffered defeat to Vasco da Gama at the Sao Januario.
Both teams have been wrought with recent departures: Romulo, Diego Souza and Fagner have all left Vasco while Santos are without Rafael Cabral, Ganso and Neymar due to international duty and also Edu Dracena, who was ruled out for six months in midweek. It was the Gigante da Colina who dealt with their issues the better, though, as they took charge of the game in the 12th minute. Juninho Pernambucano's corner was sliced into the path of Douglas by Santos' Bruno Rodrigo and the centre-back smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Douglas could have added a second later in the half but he was denied by a terrific reaction save by Aranha before two Vasco players failed to turn in the rebound. The lead was enhanced shortly after the restart, however, as Alecsandro headed in at the near post from a Juninho corner. The Peixe lacked creativity all night while Dimba and Ezequiel Miralles failed to impress up front after the losses of Borges, Alan Kardec and Wason Renteria.
It will not get any easier for 15th-placed Santos as they face league leaders Atletico Mineiro in midweek, while second-placed Vasco kept up the pressure at the top with their win.
A crowd of roughly 37,000 turned out for Clarence Seedorf's Botafogo debut but the extra support could not stop the Fogao falling to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Gremio. Reigning Brasileiro champions Corinthians could only manage a 1-1 draw with Portuguesa while Fluminense narrowly escaped the same scoreline against Ponte Preta with a late Fred penalty handing them a 2-1 win. Borges scored his first goal for Cruzeiro in a 1-0 win which piled on the misery for Flamengo fans while Sao Paulo supporters will have been relieved by their team's 2-0 win away at Figueirense. Bahia threw away a two-goal lead as Copa do Brasil finalists Coritiba fought back to take a point in a 2-2 tie.
Things started well for Sport as Gilberto turned home in the 26th minute after Victor failed to get a hand to former Real Madrid full-back Cicinho's cross. But they could only hold onto the lead for seven minutes as Danilinho pounced on a rebound from Ronaldinho's shot to tuck home the equaliser. From then on it was all Galo, but efforts from Jo, Danilinho and Rever failed to give the visitors the lead. It was not until the hour mark that Atletico finally found the net again and it came after a swift break that saw Bernard set Ronaldinho through and the two-time World Player of the Year bent in his fourth of the season.
Five minutes later the advantage was doubled as Bernard feigned to cross before driving to the byline, where he stood the ball up at the back post and Jo supplied the finishing touch. The 19-year-old Bernard then added a goal of his own, and it was an absolute beauty. From the edge of the box he caught Magrao off his line and lofted an exquisite chip over him and into the far corner to cap a sublime display. Galo became a bit complacent with their lead and allowed Sport more of the ball in the closing stages but they could find no more consolation.
Atletico remain on top of the Brasileiro, though many are wondering how long they can keep up such good form. Following their second consecutive loss, Sport drop to 13th and possess one of the leakiest defences in the competition.
| Palmeiras 3-0 Nautico |
Palmeiras picked up their first win since lifting the Copa do Brasil trophy as they beat a disappointing Nautico 3-0 at the Arena Barueri.
Making his first start since returning to Brazilian football, Obina seemed to strike up an excellent partnership with Mazinho in attack as the Verdao dominated proceedings. The pair combined early on with the former finding the net only to see it chalked off for offside. Obina did open his Palmeiras account moments later, though, as he rifled home from Joao Vitor's through-ball in the 19th minute. Nautico responded positively but after being thwarted by Bruno, they found themselves further behind as Obina turned provider with a pinpoint cross that was tapped in by Mazinho with 30 minutes played.
Before the half was out Felipe did well to claw away a curled effort by Jorge Valdivia as Palmeiras continued to keep the pressure on. Shortly after the break the hosts got their third with a rapid counterattack that almost finished with Obina grabbing his second, but his shot bounced off the post and Marcio Araujo was in position to tuck away the loose ball. It could have been four had Mazinho finished from within the six-yard box but some last-ditch defending from the visitors ensured he would not score his second.
Luiz Felipe Scolari will have been delighted with his team's display as they finally moved out of the relegation zone and up to 14th. They are now three places behind Nautico, who will rely on their home form for the majority of their points.
| Internacional 4-1 Atletico Goianiense |
Construction work continues at the Beira-Rio but new coach Fernandao laid down the building blocks for a solid start to his tenure with the Colorado, seeing his team take the lead in the 20th minute. Dagoberto clipped a fantastic pass forward to Elton who took one touch before stabbing the ball past Marcio. Eight minutes later though the Brasileiro's bottom side drew level as Renie bundled a corner over the line. Inter continued to pepper the opposition goal with shots but Fred and Jaja failed to work the keeper, with Elton's tame shot their best effort of the half.
Fernandao clearly said the right things at half-time as within two minutes of the restart his team had taken charge of the game when Dagoberto poked home from Fabricio's cross. Elton came close twice more but it was Jaja who would eventually add to the hosts' advantage as he slid home after Fred launched a counter from within his own half. And it was Fred who completed the scoring as he pierced through the heart of the Dragao defence and bent a low effort past Marcio that nestled in the bottom corner.
In seventh place, the win keeps Inter in touch with the teams at the top, while Atletico remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just five points to their name so far.
| Vasco da Gama 2-0 Santos |
Santos remain with just one win this season as they suffered defeat to Vasco da Gama at the Sao Januario.
Both teams have been wrought with recent departures: Romulo, Diego Souza and Fagner have all left Vasco while Santos are without Rafael Cabral, Ganso and Neymar due to international duty and also Edu Dracena, who was ruled out for six months in midweek. It was the Gigante da Colina who dealt with their issues the better, though, as they took charge of the game in the 12th minute. Juninho Pernambucano's corner was sliced into the path of Douglas by Santos' Bruno Rodrigo and the centre-back smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Douglas could have added a second later in the half but he was denied by a terrific reaction save by Aranha before two Vasco players failed to turn in the rebound. The lead was enhanced shortly after the restart, however, as Alecsandro headed in at the near post from a Juninho corner. The Peixe lacked creativity all night while Dimba and Ezequiel Miralles failed to impress up front after the losses of Borges, Alan Kardec and Wason Renteria.
It will not get any easier for 15th-placed Santos as they face league leaders Atletico Mineiro in midweek, while second-placed Vasco kept up the pressure at the top with their win.
| Best of the Rest |
A crowd of roughly 37,000 turned out for Clarence Seedorf's Botafogo debut but the extra support could not stop the Fogao falling to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Gremio. Reigning Brasileiro champions Corinthians could only manage a 1-1 draw with Portuguesa while Fluminense narrowly escaped the same scoreline against Ponte Preta with a late Fred penalty handing them a 2-1 win. Borges scored his first goal for Cruzeiro in a 1-0 win which piled on the misery for Flamengo fans while Sao Paulo supporters will have been relieved by their team's 2-0 win away at Figueirense. Bahia threw away a two-goal lead as Copa do Brasil finalists Coritiba fought back to take a point in a 2-2 tie.
| Player of the Round |
It has been a tremendous start to the Brasileiro for Atletico Mineiro and teenager Bernard has impressed greatly. He put in another exemplary performance for Galo in the defeat of Sport Recife, where he contributed to each one of his side's four goals, the last of which he scored himself with a phenomenal chip. Had his early-season form come at the back end of last year he could well have been in contention for a spot at the Olympic Games this summer. The Alvinegro fans, however, will be happy that that was not the case, as they now have him performing every week, and he seems to get better with each game.
