Luck even with a loss

Sao Paulo's tactic of playing with a reserve side did not pay good dividends this weekend. The team lost for the first time at home, and was quite simply embarassed by Santos at the Morumbi Stadium, with a 4-0 loss. More worried about its Libertadores semifinal return leg against Chivas Guadalajara on Wednesday, the team was able to rest its main players and still remain alone atop the standings in the Brazilian Serie A. Confirming the saying that good teams also need luck, Sao Paulo's loss was not so damaging, as Cruzeiro lost an away match to Vasco and Inter had its third straight scoreless draw, against Gremio. So now the defending Libertadores champions can concentrate on Chivas knowing that, no matter what, they are still the leaders in the Brazilian championship - and will remain so even after next week.

Inter's tactic of playing with a reserve side paid off better, in a match marked by violence in the stands and a vandalism act by Gremio's supporters where bathrooms were set on fire, forcing the match to be interrupted by 15 minutes in the second half.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, Corinthians lost again, this time by a 1-0 score away to Santa Cruz. This game saw the largest crowd of the 14th round, with more than 40,000 people. Better for Santa, which left the relegation zone, where Corinthians remains - three points behind its nearest opponent. Fluminense could not overcome a weakened Botafogo side and tied 1-1 at the Rio derby, failing yet again to gain more ground on the leaders.

Brazilian Cup champions Flamengo did not recover from all celebrations in time and lost to Atletico Paranaense 1-0, falling into the relegation zone. And Goias lost a golden opportunity against Fortaleza, tying 1-1 at home and still struggling to find its form after the World Cup break. Fortaleza tied the game in the end, on a penalty kick, by which time Goias was already playing with nine men.