Flamengo, 2009
Five titles
With the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A heating up as the front runners enter the final furlong, Palmeiras are in pole position to claim their first title since 1994.
That squad contained a 22-year-old Rivaldo. Fast-forward a couple of decades and a certain young Brazilian, Gabriel Jesus, is drawing similar comparisons to one of the finest attackers in the history of football.
The 19-year-old will be linking up with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in January when the Brazilian season concludes and has been earmarked as a star for the future.
Jesus has netted 11 goals so far this campaign in 18 appearances for Alviverde and with less than a third of the season to go the Olympic Gold medallist could be the man to fire his side to a record ninth league title.
However, Palmeiras are just one point clear of five-time champions Flamengo who are aiming to claim their first title since 2009. Adriano fired the Rio de Janeiro side to their first crown since 1992 with 19 goals in his first season back in Brazil after five years at Inter Milan.
Former Hamburg striker Paolo Guerrero now ply’s his trade for Mengao at the Maracanã alongside Diego, who has had spells at Porto, Werder Bremen, Juventus, Wolfsburg and Atletico Madrid. The Brazilian won two titles with Santos in 2002 and 2004 and was also part of Atletico’s La Liga winning side in 2013/14.
There’s plenty of experience in the Flamengo squad, with former Bayer Leverkusen and Roma centre-back Juan at the heart of the defence, while Leandro Damiao will be looking for a strong end to the campaign in order to force his way back into the Brazil squad for the first time since 2013.
Palmeiras, 1994
Eight titles
Atletico Mineiro, 1971
One title
Last season’s runners-up Atletico Mineiro, who finished 12 points behind eventual champions Corinthians, haven’t won the title since 1971 but will be confident of mounting a challenge this time around.
If former Real Madrid forward Robinho and ex-Lyon striker Fred can reproduce the glittering form that saw them wow Europe before returning to South America, then the Belo Horizonte side can consider themselves serious contenders.
In addition to Robinho and Fred, Ecuadorian midfielder Juan Cazares has notched six goals in seven league appearances this season and Argentinian forward Lucas Pratto has eleven goals in all competitions.
Meanwhile, current champions Corinthians’ title defence looks all but over. The Sao Paulo-based club sit seventh, 13 points off the pace following a 1-0 defeat to Fluminense last weekend.
Vagner Love, who notched 14 goals last season, left the club for Monaco (and has since moved to Alanyaspor), while Jadson, who weighed in with 13 goals and 12 assists, is now with Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian.
No doubt there’s still plenty of twists and turns ahead before the season draws to a climax, and it’s sure to be a thrilling finale as the Brazilian heavyweights go head to head for the league crown.
BRASILEIRO SERIE A TITLE RACE
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Article posted: 30 September 2016
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