QUOTE:
Whatever happened to the old Brazilian policy of changing the rules/league structure to ensure big clubs aren't relegated, then? Harrumph.

This policy does seem to have fallen into disuse, as Corinthians will testify. And of course, Fluminense sank into Serie C in 1999 and Botafogo were in Serie B in 2003.

That doesn't mean that dodgy business doesn't still go on. I'd like to hear Colorado Matt's take on the 2005 Brasileiro that Corinthians were enabled to win over Internacional.

Banton - D'Alessandro joined Inter at the end of July after Ramon Diaz left San Lorenzo.

D'Alessandro joined Inter earlier this summer. He signed from Real Zaragoza but he was out on loan in Argentina.

His signing followed the loss of Inter's hugely influential captain Fernandao, who moved to the Middle East.

I always thought they'd signed him as a long-term replacement for Alex (as they are virtually carbon copies of each other - including the dodgy haircut haha)

Well as a player I guess D'Alessandro is more similar in style to Alex (including the barnet!) but his arrival also helped appease some of the fans' fustration of losing thier 'icon' Fernandao who'd left the club shortly before.

I think it was also a signal of intent of the club ahead of it's centenery next year (i.e qualify for the Libertadores whatever the cost!!)

Things are warming up in the Brasileirao now!

It certainly is warming up at both top and bottom and, with two tricky away games coming up, 10 man Flu's failure to beat 9 man Goiás last night has done them no favours. How they didn't get the winner, I still don't know - at least half a dozen 'head in hands, how the fuck did he miss that' moments.

Cuca got the boot after the game (just 9 matches in charge!) René Simões is already in charge

Yep, so we're a little more than halfway through the season and Cuca has already a been sacked from three clubs - Botafogo, Santos and Fluminense. And Simões now has 9 games to save Flu.

And Cruzeiro close the gap at the top with a 1-0 win over Sport, though I didn't see the goal, having switched off at half time due to the unremitting tedium of the first half.

Easy to sum up this week as the top 5 all won and the bottom 6 (with the exception of the above-mentioned Fluminense) all lost. It looks like Palmeiras, Grêmio, Cruzeiro, Flamengo and São Paulo fighting for the 4 CL places.

At the bottom it's increasingly bleak for Vasco who are now bottom, having crashed to a 4-2 home defeat to Figueirense, with their defence exceeding even previous levels of incompetence. I can't how they're going to get out of this.

Huge shame if they were relegated although a year in Serie B to rebuild could be the best thing that could happen to them.

The Fla fans must be delighted to see Vasco's decline. Out of interest (I'm assuiming your based in Rio), who do you follow?

Also, if Fla supporters had to pick, who would be the bigger rival, Vasco or Flu?

I like to see all the Carioca teams do well but, if you pushed me, I'd say Flamengo, as going to their matches is one of the world's great football-watching experiences. But the others have their merits too - Vasco have a beautiful stadium, my best mate supports Botafogo and Fluminense have a cool kit and the best looking women.

Flamengo's biggest rivalry is definitely with Vasco and, with a lot at stake for both teams, the clássico in two weeks time will be very tasty indeed. (Apologies for lapsing into Danny Dyer-speak)

haha Talking of Danny Dyer speak, it's appear's that Vasco's former president Eurico has been a bit 'naughty' after suggesting he would ensure the club stay up if he was in charge. I can't see what he'd do other than make a few dodgy calls to his 'contacts'.

Anyway, with some juicy ties being played in 29 rodada, here's a few words from my site about this weeks round of games, starting tonight-

With Brazil playing in Venezuela on Sunday night in their latest World Cup Qualifier, the Campeonato Brasileiro is once again being played across three nights.

Starting tonight the 29ª rodada gets underway with the top two, Palmeiras and Grêmio both in action along with the Brasileirão’s bottom club, Vasco. Leaders Palmeiras visit lowly Figueirense whilst faltering Grêmio play Santos. The evenings final game see’s mid table Sport take on relegation threatened Vasco who are on a run of seven straight defeats.

Tomorrow night, both Cruzeiro and São Paulo who both have 49 points will be looking to further establish themselves in the top four when they take on Náutico and Ipatinga respectively. Botafogo meanwhile play Vitória in Rio with both sides fighting to keep their Copa Libertadores hopes alive.

Saturday’s games see relegation threatened Atlético-PR and Fluminense meet whilst Flamengo, currently fourth play Atlético-MG at the Maracanã. Meanwhile a defeat for Inter who visit Goiás would surely rule out Colorado dreams of a top four finish and in the rounds final game, struggling Portuguesa face Coritiba in São Paulo state.

29ª Rodada fixtures: (Wed) Sport v Vasco, Figueirense v Palmeiras, Grêmio v Santos (Thurs) São Paulo v Náutico, Cruzeiro v Ipatinga, Botafogo v Vitória (Sat) Atlético-PR v Fluminense, Portuguesa v Coritiba, Goiás v Internacional, Flamengo v Atlético-MG

Vasco concede 91st minute equaliser - bah! Still move up 2 places but will be bottom again if Portuguesa and Ipatinga draw their games.

Just wondering, as a new Vasco fan should i reserve my loathing for Flamengo or do the other Carioca teams deserve some hating as well?

See how it pans out Chas. You wouldn't want to cultivate an arbitrary hate only to meet a gorgeous, witty fan of the hated team, now would you?

That equaliser was a crushing blow after a much better performance, including a couple of excellent goals from one of their few decent players, Leandro Amaral. They should take some encouragement from that but the big one is looming - Flamengo at the Maracanã on Sunday week.

Although there's the usual banter and gloating aimed at Vasco and Flu fans, I get the sense that if either or both are relegated, they'll be sorely missed.

In other news, Grêmio go top with a 2-0 win over Santos after Palmeiras can only draw at Figueirense. It was no surprise to read yesterday that Grêmio are the dirtiest team in the league on fouls committed - 50% more than Flamengo! Also, Kléber of Palmeiras was up to his usual tricks last night with a forearm smash into the face of a Figueirense player. The good guys in this title race are definitely Flamengo and Cruzeiro.

just read something interesting about Grêmio's run in - in their first meetings, they took 23 points out of a possible 29 against the nine teams they have to play to the end of the season. if they repeat that form, they'll be champions -