Brazilian Serie A preview - Round 16

With only four games left to play before reaching the half of the Brazilian Serie A, several teams try to recover their form and place a series of positive results to climb the table. An overall balanced group of teams has meant little difference between the leaders and the relegation zone, with a series of team in between.

Here are my views on this week's games. The first four games are on Saturday, and the other six on Sunday:

JUVENTUDE x VASCO: Juventude tries to recover from last week's 1-0 loss to Gremio in Porto Alegre. They may have trouble against a determined Vasco side that could have had more luck last week in a 2-1 loss to Parana. All in all, it seems that the draw is a very possible result here.

SAO CAETANO x SANTA CRUZ: Santa Cruz continues to play well, and last week simply shocked Cruzeiro by refusing to fall back and coming back from behind to tie a game 3-3 at the Mineirao Stadium. Sao Caetano, on the other hand, has four draws in five games under unbeaten coach Emerson Leao. Another draw is possible, despite the locals slight advantage.

FLAMENGO x PONTE PRETA: Brazilian Cup champions have regained the confidence they need to escape relegation in the Brazilian League after last week's 1-0 win over Goias. Ponte Preta should usually not pose too much of a problem based on recent performances, but last week the team from Campinas simply crushed another team from Rio, 3-0. Flamengo is still the favourite though.

CORINTHIANS x FIGUEIRENSE: Can the end of an eight-game winless streak finally put the defending champions back on track? Not if the internal atmosphere of the team is any indication. With a fight breaking out between players and the team's direction still on a fight with its main partner, MSI, Corinthians is still amidst a mess for this game. Luckily they will play at home, but Figueirense has not been playing poorly enough to justify a possible favouritism by the locals.

BOTAFOGO x PALMEIRAS: The visitors try to regain their form, after a disappointing performance last weekend that saw the team luckily escape with a point from Fortaleza. Botafogo, meanwhile, tries to play better than in another draw last weekend, against Sao Paulo's reserves. Both teams haven't lost after the World Cup break, with Botafogo tying four and winning one, and Palmeiras winning four and drawing one. Maybe they will remain unbeaten after this.

GREMIO x ATLETICO-PR: Along with a 1-0 win against a Flamengo side still tired after celebrations for a Brazilian Cup victory, Atletico has three losses in its last four games. All by a 2-1 score. Gremio will try to add to Atletico's woes, but must do so away from home, after the team was punished for its fans' behaviour in the draw against Internacional last month. They may just do that.

CRUZEIRO x FLUMINENSE: Can these teams overcome the frustration from last weekend's results? Cruzeiro gave away two points at home after allowing Santa Cruz to come back and tie a game 3-3, while Fluminense went to Campinas and left with a 3-0 loss to Ponte Preta. To make matters worse for Fluminense, the team also lost coach Oswaldo Oliveira midweek, after an argument over possible interference by the board on who should play. With that in mind, and taking into account the location of the game, Cruzeiro should win.

FORTALEZA x INTERNACIONAL: Internacional is coming one of the most important wins in club history. Only it wasn't in the Brazilian League, but the South American Copa Libertadores, over Sao Paulo. With the team fully concentrated on the return leg of that final and a reserve team showing up for this game, Inter should not pose too much of a threat to Fortaleza. However, The locals must try to play as well, if not better, than last weekend on a draw against Palmeiras. Time is running short for Fortaleza to try to escape the relegation zone, and this is a good opportunity for them to do so. Inter could still surprise and escape with a point, though.

SAO PAULO x GOIAS: The other Libertadores finalist is still trying to recover from its shocking loss to Inter at home. Its reserve side will try to re-focus on the Brazilian League, despite the general sadness that took place of the team after Wednesday. Josue - red carded against Inter - is the only regular scheduled to play against his former team, Goias. Fortunately for Sao Paulo, the visitors have not been playing well lately.

PARANA x SANTOS: Red hot Parana faces ressurging Santos, in this weekend's most anticipated matchup. The locals are slight favourites here, thanks to their recent play that saw the team win four out of five games. Santos is coming from two straight wins against powerhouses Inter and Sao Paulo, but those results were achieved against reserve sides. And last week against Inter the team almost lost, coming from behind to win with 10 men in the dying moments of the second half. Should be a good one!