Atletico 2 x 1 São Paulo - FT São Paulo got a PK and drew the game, but Hulk combined with Paulinho to score a winner right at the end (ugh). I just need a win tomorrow. Flu leaving main starters (Ganso, Arias, Marcelo, Cano) at home. No excuses.
Well I'm just hoping Flamengo hang on to a top 4 spot and don't screw up today. São Paulo can be a complicated last match away. If Palmeiras win, the Championship is all but officially over, as they have a 7 goal lead on the goal difference tiebreaker.
Breno missed a chance 30 seconds into the game. But then Fluminense missed 2 great chances. Nervous start. Fluminense sub playing the same way the starting team does. And playing well.
Palmeiras scores by VAR calls it off for handball in the build up. I thought handball on Endrick in the buildup not caught by the ref was not VAR reviewed anymore unless it was from the player who scored the goal.
ugh ... 2nd goal called off. I am not sure that ball went out of bounds. The linesman didn't call it but the ref did.
Match is over. Have to wait for the Botafogo and Grêmio matches to see if Libertadores spots are decided today or Wednesday. Palmeiras officially get a direct spot to Libertadores and basically the title, but it won't be official until the last round.
Fluminense started well but after we scored, they really looked like they weren't interested in scoring. Specially in the 2nd half. Pretty clear they didn't weren't going to give you guys a hand. Definitely not the effort São Paulo put in yesterday. Still, without scoring the 2nd I was nervous till the end. It was also pretty hot out there.
Suarez scored in his final home game for Grêmio and they won 1x0. They hold 4th place, but cannot catch up to Palmeiras. Only Flamengo and Atlético MG can tie Palmeiras on points now. Botafogo could not beat Cruzeiro, at home, and are out and in 5th place. They are 1 point behind Grêmio and 2 behind Flamengo and Atlético-MG, so they can still move up into an automatic Libertadores spot on the last matchday. Flamengo need to win to make sure they stay in the top 4, because if they tie and Botafogo win, Botafogo move ahead on tiebreakers. At the bottom of the table, Bahia lost, so they're in the last relegation spot (17th). However, Santos also lost, and with Vasco's defeat to Grêmio, they are still at risk. To guarantee safety, Santos have to win, because if they tie, Vasco can pass them and Bahia can win and beat them on tiebreakers.
Botafogo still couldn't get a win. They drew Cruzeiro. They are officially out of the title race. Was watching their game and they missed at least 3 great chances to score. Truly incredible. They fall to 5th and out of G4. This means only Atletico and Flamengo still have a mathematical chance. Flamengo can't make such a big GD though (17). Atletico would have to make up 8 goals. Doable if Palmeiras were to lose by lets say 3-4 goals, but hard. But Cruzeiro, with their draw are now safe from relegation. So there is no way they will help their rivals out. It's a bit crazy that how close teams were at the top, that the title was actually basically decided before the last round. As for Z4, Bahia, Vasco, and Santos all lost today and will fight to stay up. All other teams above are safe.
I will say this, after we beat Botafogo, I was still 100% sure Botafogo was going to win the title. They played a great 1st half and I thought if they kept some of that form up, they'd clinch the title with no problems since they were still playing Vasco, Coritiba, Santos, Cruzeiro ... games I thought they'd collect at least 7 points but probably more. Still can't believe it.
Endrick !!! 1 x 0 Cruzeiro playing well. But that was a gift. They are playing for a Sul-Americana spot, so they do have something to play for.
Right now Santos are getting relegated. Relegation has the potential to hurt the club even more financially.
Thank goodness Botafogo are losing, cause that keeps us in fourth, but if they win, Flamengo would fall to fifth and have to go through 2 of the rounds of pre-Libertadores.