Three games tonight

The 12th round of the 2007 Brazilian Serie A football league will be closed tonight, with three games:

GOIAS x GREMIO
Gremio tries to focus on the match after nearly being killed in a plane accident on Tuesday. Goias can get within two points of leaders Botafogo with a win, while Gremio can gain second place from Goias and move within four of the leaders. Goias' coach Bonamigo - a former Gremio player - will be without midfielder Cleber Gaucho (suspended), while Paulo Baier (pink eye) is likely going to play. Left-back Lucio was sold to Hertha Berlin and will not play for Gremio, while defensive midfielder Gavilan is also out for the visitors, suspended. 18-year-old left-back Anderson Pico could play in midfield alongside captain Tcheco, who returns after being out since the Copa Libertadores final. And forward Carlos Eduardo, who was with the Brazilian Under-20 team, will start the match.

FLAMENGO x PARANA
Due to the Pan-American Games currently underway in Rio de Janeiro, Flamengo has played only eight games against most team's eleven. Due to this discrepancy, the traditional team finds itself in the relegation zone, with just eight points. The Games will also force this match to be played away from Rio, in neutral Uberlandia. Right-back Leonardo Moura and left-back Juan return to the team, alongside midfielder Renato Augusto and goalkeeper Bruno. But defenders Ronaldo Angelim and Irineu are suspended, and Thiago and Rodrigo Arroz will play instead, the first time they play together. Forward Obina, who hasn't played in several months, will start on the bench, and may be an option for the second half. Parana will make three changes in relation to the team that lost to Figueirense (1-2) on the weekend. Defender Nem will replace injured Daniel Marques, with Luiz Henrique joining the defense in place of Joao Paulo and Alex returning to the right-back position, instead of Parral.

PALMEIRAS x SANTOS
After two impressive wins (4-1 over Cruzeiro and 3-0 over Botafogo), Santos travels to Sao Paulo trying to surprise arch-rivals Palmeiras, in a Sao Paulo State derby to be played at the Parque Antarctica Stadium. Palmeiras is unbeaten in four games, but hasn't defeated Santos in its last five tries. A win tonight can take the team to second place in the standings, depending on the result of the Goias and Gremio game. Forward Kleber Pereira makes his debut for Santos, which will also have Kleber back from the Brazilian National Team that won the Copa America. Defender Adailton leaves the starting lineup, while Domingos continues to impress coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Midfielders Maldonado (injured) and Dionisio (suspended) are out. Defensive midfielder Valdivia also returns to Palmeiras after playing for Chile in the continental competition. Martinez also returns from suspension, while Deyvid is out with muscle pain. Forward Edmundo, who has missed the last four games with an injury, will likely start from the bench. Coach Caio Junior has yet to decide if the team will start the game with two or three central defenders.