Sao Paulo tries to keep advantage atop the standings

Sao Paulo starts the second half of the Brazilian Serie A soccer league on the road against Goias, trying to maintain the seven point advantage built over second place Botafogo in the standings. This and six other matches complete the 20th round of the league this Sunday.

Here's a preview of Sunday's matches.

SAO PAULO x GOIAS
Nobody really expected the defending champions to be so far ahead atop the Brazilian league at the end of the first half, but a series of positive results in the last few rounds meant the team kept adding points, while its closest opponents continued to lose. For the start of the second half the team travels to Goiania to face Goias, currently in 8th place and trying to return to the top four. Sao Paulo is coming off four straight road wins and seven wins overall. Goias hasn't played well on the road, but at home the team has won four straight. In the first round Sao Paulo defeated Goias at home, 2-0. Goias has all players available for the match. For the visitors, defender Andre Dias is hurt, while Richarlyson and Borges are suspended. Forward Aloisio may return, but his fitness level is still not optimal, so he may start from the bench.

PALMEIRAS x FLAMENGO
Flamengo won two in a row at the Maracana Stadium, but now the team returns to the road. There's nothing the team would want more than get a third straight win to keep its recovery effort in the standings on track. Curiously, Palmeiras has played decently on the road but not so much at home, where it has won only once in its last four games. In the first round, Palmeiras managed an important 4-2 road win at the Maracana. Three regular starters are out for Palmeiras, midfielders Valdivia, Makelele and Wendel are suspended. Luiz Henrique returns on attack after serving a one game suspension. For Flamengo, Roger, Juan and Leonardo Moura are suspended, alongside Souza. Renato Augusto is still recovering from a thigh injury and remains out. Forward Obina, who has been trying to recover his best conditioning, may return.

NAUTICO x ATLETICO MINEIRO
A win can move Nautico out of the relegation zone, but the team will have a tough time against a determined Atletico Mineiro team that is still trying to find some consistency under coach Emerson Leao. The locals have won two of their last three, but lost their last match to Flamengo, 2-1. Atletico has lost two in a row and three of the last four. In the first round, Atletico defeated Nautico 2-1 in Belo Horizonte. Defender Onildo and right-back Sidny return for the locals from injury. Defender Breno is also back, but Deleu is suspended. For Atletico, midfielder Marcinho is injured and will not play.

JUVENTUDE x CORINTHIANS
Corinthians has done well to escape the relegation zone, and Juventude will try to draw on that example to do just the same. Second last in the standings, the team from Caxias do Sul knows it must take advantage of the home crowd support to get crucial points at home if it is to stay in the Serie A. Corinthians would like to repeat the excellent effort that ended with a 3-2 away win over Botafogo on Wednesday, a result that left the team in 12th in the standings, with 26 points. In the first round, Corinthians beat Juventude 1-0 at home. Midfielder Willian has been sold to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk and will no longer play for Corinthians. Zelao returns on defense from suspension, replacing Kadu, who was sent off against Botafogo. Juventude will be without coach Claudio Duarte, who resigned on Friday. Defender Leonardo Silva is out injured, while Julio Cesar is suspended and Wescley is questionable.

VASCO x AMERICA NATAL
Vasco has a good chance to get 3 points against a team that has played pretty poorly all season long and deserves to be in last place in the standings. The locals are unbeaten in five, while America is coming off six straight losses. In the first round in Natal, Vasco won 1-0. Right-back Wagner Diniz returns from injury for Vasco, but Dudar, Morais and Romario continue to be treated by the medical staff and remain out. America let go of four players during last week, and will also be without three suspended players.

CRUZEIRO x FLUMINENSE
Things don't look particularly good at the Laranjeiras, after Fluminense lost to Flamengo 1-0 on Thursday, just days after easily disposing of Santos 3-0. With just one win in its last seven matches, the team coached by Renato Gaucho must get at least a point to try to gain some consistency on the season. Unfortunately the road game against Cruzeiro will be quite a challenge at the Mineirao, with the local team having won its last four games in the Serie A. In the first round at the Maracana, both teams played to a 2-2 draw. Defender Thiago Heleno serves his second game suspension for the locals, after being sent off against Atletico Paranaense. Marcinho and Guilherme are out injured. Rodrigo Tiui returns from suspension for Fluminense, but both players traditionally used as right-backs remain out injured.

BOTAFOGO x INTERNACIONAL
Botafogo know the time for wasting points at home is over, after two straight home losses, to Sao Paulo and Corinthians. From a safe five-point lead early in the season, the team has seen Sao Paulo take over and open a seven-point lead atop the standings. With just one win in its last six games, Botafogo will try to get the three points against Inter, knowing its opponent is also going through a tough time, with one win in its last four games. In the first round at the Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre, Botafogo came away with a good 3-2 away win. Forward Dodo is out injured for Botafogo, while coach Cuca opted to use Max instead of Marcos Leandro in goal. Another tactical option will see Renato Silva replacing Alex on defense. For Inter, Marcao is suspended after failing a doping exam, and Edinho is out injured.

---
Update: Sao Paulo and Goias tied 0-0. Vasco beat America 2-0, and Atletico Mineiro defeated Nautico 1-0. Palmeiras got a 2-1 win over Flamengo, and Cruzeiro defeated Fluminense 4-2. Corinthians and Juventude tied 2-2, while Botafogo and Inter settled for a 1-1 score.