Brazilian Serie A - round 28 preview

Approaching the final stretch, with 11 games left to play for each team, the 2006 Brazilian League title is still up for grabs. However, the leaders know their time to waste precious points is over, and they must get everything they can if they do not want to risk arriving at the later rounds needing a miracle to keep their title hopes alive. Round 28 can limit the title chase to two teams or bring a third one closer to the dispute. Second place Gremio travels to Santos to face a third place team that could end the weekend trailing just Sao Paulo in the standings. Sao Paulo, on the other hand, goes to Rio to face Fluminense, knowing that a win there coupled with a Santos victory would leave the team seven points clear atop the table.

Here are my views for this weekend's games:

PONTE PRETA x JUVENTUDE: Ponte remains in 17th place, two points behind Corinthians, and slowly fading into a certain relegation spot. Coming off three straight losses, the team must win this home game if it has any true hopes of remaining in the Brazilian football elite. Juventude might prove to be the perfect opponent for that, having lost its last three away games. The team from Caxias do Sul will not be an easy three points though, and could battle for at least a tie.

FLUMINENSE x SAO PAULO: After a 5-1 home win over Vasco on Wednesday, Sao Paulo restored its confidence that it can keep atop the standings to claim its fourth ever National title. This weekend the team travels to Rio, where it will face a Fluminense side which is coming off a terrible 4-1 loss in a derby against Flamengo. The visitors have a clear chance here, though they have lost their last two meetings with Fluminense in Rio for the Brazilian League.

VASCO x FORTALEZA: Vasco will try to erase the embarrassing 5-1 away loss to Sao Paulo by facing a team in the relegation zone. Winless in seven, the locals will try to halt Fortaleza's bid to remain in the Serie A. The visitors have been playing better lately, and have lost only once in their last four away games.

INTERNACIONAL x SAO CAETANO: Inter fell to fourth place, nine points behind Sao Paulo, after a 2-1 away loss to Cruzeiro on Thursday. Depending on the team's next results, Inter may all but give up on its quest for a fourth National title, concentrating on the World Club Championship to be played in December in Japan. This weekend the team has the obligation to win though, as it faces a free falling Sao Caetano side that seems condemned to play in the Second Division next year. Winless in 10 games, Sao Caetano has five straight losses that left the team in second last in the standings, with just 26 points in 27 games.

ATLETICO PARANAENSE x CRUZEIRO: Atletico has another chance to tune up its squad before the important game against River Plate for the Sudamericana. After losing 3-2 away to Juventude, the team is back home to face Cruzeiro this weekend, riding a three-game unbeaten streak at home. The visitors defeated Inter 2-1 on Thursday, but keep playing inconsistently. Prior to defeating Ponte Preta on september 24, Cruzeiro had lost seven straight away from Belo Horizonte.

SANTA CRUZ x PARANA: Santa Cruz has another tough game trying to recover to escape relegation. After a 3-0 loss away to Botafogo on Thursday, the team returns home to face Parana, which is fighting Inter for fourth place in the standings. Santa Cruz has won its last two home games, while Parana has lost six of its last seven away matches.

PALMEIRAS x FLAMENGO: Palmeiras gave the tournament new life after beating Sao Paulo and losing to Gremio, keeping the difference between the two top teams in the league at five points. Now the team must concentrate on saving itself from relegation, sitting a short three points above 17th place Ponte Preta. Returning to Sao Paulo to play at its Parque Antarctica Stadium, the team hosts Flamengo on Sunday. The visitors are coming off a good 4-1 win over arch-rivals Fluminense on Wednesday, and will certainly fight for at least a point here. The locals are unbeaten in eight at home, winning six and drawing two of those games.

GOIAS x CORINTHIANS: After a 3-0 loss at home to Santos, Corinthians travels to Goiania to face a recovering Goias side. Unbeaten in seven, Goias does not look like the team that spent 11 matches without a win earlier in the season. After a great 4-0 win at home over Gremio, the team is coming off an important 2-1 away victory over Sao Caetano on Wednesday, and could give the defending champions some trouble. The loss to Santos halted a six-game unbeaten streak by Corinthians, which will try to regroup for this important match.

FIGUEIRENSE x BOTAFOGO: Botafogo's good play of late has temporarily rewarded the team with a spot in the Copa Sudamericana next year. Currently in ninth place with 37 points, the team is tied with Figueirense, its opponent this Sunday. Seven points clear of the bottom four, these teams seem to be concentrating more on keeping their place in the continental qualification zone, and could provide for an entertaining meeting here.

SANTOS x GREMIO: The most anticipated match of round 28 is the one to close the weekend on Sunday, with third place Santos hosting second place Gremio at the Vila Belmiro Stadium. Having suffered only one loss at home all season, Santos will try to build on the good 3-0 away win over Corinthians achieved on Thursday, while Gremio tries to shake off its 4-0 loss to Goias suffered in its last away game. A draw is not that bad a result for Gremio, though the team must be worried about Sao Paulo possibly increasing its lead if it beats Fluminense on Saturday.