Brazilian Serie B update

The Brazilian Serie B Football League has had 12 of its 38 rounds played so far, with Criciuma holding the top spot in the standings with 26 points, five more than second place Vitoria and third place Gama. Coritiba comes next with 20 points to round out the top four which would be promoted if the tournament ended today. There's still a long way to go, however, and anything can still happen. Good news for the bottom feeders, particularly Paulista, currently in last with just 9 points. Ituano is second last, with ten, while Santa Cruz keeps falling, being currently in 18th place in its first year back in Serie B, after being relegated from the Brazilian Serie A last season. Remo, with 13 points, is in 17th, the last spot for relegation to the dreaded Serie C.

Two matches will be played this Tuesday in the Serie B. Ipatinga from Minas Gerais hosts Santo Andre, as both teams try to move closer to the leaders. Currently with 15 points, they are presently tied for 12th place, with the visitors holding the advantage on goal differential.

Slightly better, ninth place Portuguesa (17 points) hosts 11th place CRB (16 points), trying to jump four spots to temporarily take 5th place in the standings. Both teams are coming from 1-0 defeats last Friday, with Portuguesa losing an away game to Remo and CRB being upset at home by Marilia.

Two other games are scheduled for Friday and six for Saturday, as the race for a berth in next year's Brazilian football elite continues to heat up.