Brasileirão

Ronaldinho and his Atletico Mineiro team-mates kick-off their inaugural FIFA World Club Cup campaign against Moroccan outfit Raja Casablanca on Wednesday.

2013 has been a good year for football in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerias; after Atletico lifted the Copa Libertadores in July, rivals Cruzeiro were crowned national league champions earlier this month.

Now, Atletico have the chance to cap an excellent few months by emulating Corinthians' global success last year and lift the trophy most coveted by South American clubs.

There is more news coming out of the Brazilian club's training camp about the impending exit of coach Cuca to China rather than this afternoon's semi-final, which perhaps indicates the tag of “favourites” the continental champions have become so accustomed to wearing.

After Bayern's comprehensive 3-0 dispatching of Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou Evergrande on Tuesday, the incentive to meet Pep Guardiola and Co. in the final is enormous.

Raja, for their part, are doing their best to stir the pot. On Monday, Vivien Mabide attempted to stoke the fires with some rather derogatory comments about Ronaldinho, which more stated the obvious than drew a pitch fork.

“Ronaldinho is no longer the Ronaldinho of Barcelona,” Mabide told reporters.

The 33-year-old World Cup winner laughed it off, but showed in training he still has the ability to turn a sporting contest into his own personal entertainment stage, like a ball juggling gladiator satisfying the demands of a vibrant crowd.

But The Side That Cuca Built has much more to it than the veteran playmaker. Technically balanced and exciting to watch they can count on the defensive solidity of goalkeeper Victor and central defensive partnership Marcos Rocha and Leo Silva.

And supporting Ronaldinho in Atletico's attacking quartet are Fernandinho, Jo and Diego Tardelli, the latter two having earned national call-ups.

Atletico have the technical brilliance to take their hosts apart. They dealt with the pressure of fans' expectations in the Libertadores and must do so again against Raja to set up a meeting with the European champions this Saturday.

During their successful continental campaign earlier this year, a recurring theme was Atletico snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, primarily thanks to Victor's heroics between the goalposts.

Now, they must use that same psychological steel to overcome nerves against a team that will have the fans in their corner, especially as everyone in Brazil is expecting the Minas club to reach the final and to do so with aplomb.

But against Raja and then Bayern, potentially, three days later, two opposite game plans must be adopted. Against Raja it is imperative Atletico press from the off and take the game to an opponent who is likely to “park the bus.”

Should they come up against the German outfit, even as huge underdogs, it is unlikely the Brazilians will adopt a completely defensive stance. It isn't in Cuca's DNA.

But they will have to adapt and be more tactically aware than in Wednesday's encounter.

Cuca had long been seen in Brazil as the unluckiest manager around, forever doomed to be runner-up. This year's triumph has shaken off those shackles as he prepares to face the greatest challenge of his 15-year managerial career.

And that's when Ronaldinho's experience and intelligence can come to the fore as a huge asset for club and coach. He may have lost a shade of pace over the last seven or eight years, but the mind of a genius lives on.

In a contest where the stakes are so high—the crown of world club champions—Atletico will count on not only the jaw-dropping abilities of their talisman but his knowledge of facing such renowned opponents regularly.

In short, they will count on Ronaldinho not letting the occasion get to him—of being the leader and not only the entertainer.

The same Ronaldinho? Of course not. It's likely he's picked up a thing or two in his twilight.

The barbaric and savage scenes that overshadowed the end to the Campeonato Brasileiro this past Sunday have led to a flurry of panic.

Brazil is six short months away from hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and video footage of fighting between Atletico Paranaense and Vasco da Gama supporters has now made its way around the globe.

To put the game into context, it was one of high stakes. Atletico, the home side, needed three points to guarantee qualification for next year's Copa Libertadores, South America's answer to the Champions League.

Vasco, meanwhile, were desperate to keep their slim chances of surviving relegation alive.

The game had already been moved from Atletico's home to neighbouring state Santa Catarina due to crowd trouble at an earlier match. But the major problem was with police, or rather the lack of.

Security at the ground was left to a private company and as violence erupted after 17 minutes they were left virtually toothless in the face of misconstrued passion.

The ground was terraced. The lack of seating gave those supporters willing to get involved in the fracas the freedom to launch themselves at their opposite numbers.

And after Atletico went in front early on, the highly charged atmosphere began to spill over.

What then ensued could so easily have ended in fatal tragedy. Miraculously no one was killed, although 19-year-old William Batista was airlifted to hospital with a fractured skull.

Incredibly, after over an hour of deliberation, it was decided the match would continue. Atletico went on to thrash Vasco 5-1, condemning the Rio club to their second relegation in five years.

But it was merely the sub-plot on a day when violence stole the headlines. Brazilian football was the big loser in a year that has now been sandwiched by major acts of thoughtless thuggery.

Back in February, 14-year-old Kevin Beltran Espada was killed at a Copa Libertadores tie in Bolivia between San Jose and Corinthians.

A flare launched by the Corinthians fans struck the Bolivian teenager in the face. Twelve people were arrested in connection with the incident but none were formally charged.

Unfortunately, a comparison to the World Cup next year is inevitable. But the chances of a repeat of the scenes in Santa Catarina are minimal.

The prospect of street crime and getting caught up in the vast political protests that are expected to sweep the land are a risk, but the sort of scenes that were broadcasted on Sunday are not likely to happen in any World Cup stadium, due to the differences in attitude towards club and international football.

There still remains in Brazilian club football a pack mentality, which, given the wrong set of circumstances, can resemble two armies clashing over a piece of land.

On Sunday, as fans went at each other with anything from fists to wooden bars with nails embedded in the top, players remonstrated with supporters to stop. Their calls fell on deaf ears as mob rule took over.

Part of the problem lies with the role the torcida organizada play in domestic football here. Brazil is a vast country and the distances fans would have to cover normally mean the organized factions are the only representatives at an away fixture.

Whilst the Selecao Brasileira can be an obsession, the same aggression is not associated with the national side. Corinthians vs. Palmeiras, Flamengo vs. Vasco, Gremio vs. Internacional, rather than matches on the international calendar are synonymous with supporter clashes.

Even last week, the supposed celebration of Cruzeiro's first league title in a decade was marred by violence as fighting broke out between supporters of the same club. The same happened in 2009 as Flamengo fans waited to buy tickets for the league's final game against Gremio, when a win would have taken the club to their first title in 17 years.

Sunday's images are lamentable to say the least. But club football and all it entails remains a completely different beast to the Brazilian national side and the implications for the World Cup next year.

Player discontent may be rife in Brazilian football, but nothing was going to stop Cruzeiro and their fans from enjoying a third national championship on Wednesday in Salvador.

As it happened The Foxes and a vocal traveling contingent of supporters learned of their victory at the half of their 3-1 win at the Barradao.

Second-place Atletico Paranaense—13 points adrift of the league leaders heading into the 34th matchday—required a win away to Criciuma in order to stave off Cruzeiro’s celebrations, and when they were beaten 2-1 in Santa Catarina the title, so long expected, became a formality for the Belo Horizonte side.

Perhaps poetically it was Wellington Paulista, on loan at Criciuma from Cruzeiro, who scored the winner against Atletico—the goal that delivered the trophy to the Mineirao.

But with or without the result at Estadio Heriberto Hulse the 2013 championship was destined for Cruzeiro, and had been for some time.

A 12-match unbeaten run in which they picked up 34 of a possible 36 points between mid-August and the first week of October established what would prove to be an insurmountable lead atop the standings, and even last month’s run of three losses from four wasn’t enough to bring them down to the rest of the pack.

As far as performances are concerned, attacking midfielder Everton Ribeiro picked up where he left off following a breakout 2012 campaign at Coritiba, Borges set the goalscoring pace and goalkeeper Fabio was exceptional behind a defensive unit that included Leo and Dede, the latter of whom joined the club in April following a €5 million move from Vasco da Gama.

Willian, Julio Baptista and Ricardo Goulart—all of whom found the back of the net against Vitoria—were also acquired by Cruzeiro this calendar year, as were Dagoberto and the aforementioned Everton Ribeiro.

Cruzeiro will next attempt to reclaim the state championship they haven’t held since 2011 before turning their attention to the Copa Libertadores, which they won in both 1976 and 1997.

But the fixture pileup created by those competitions—particularly the state championship as well as the Copa do Brasil—has become a point of protest for many players and other stakeholders, and on Wednesday matches in many grounds began with the players, standing arms crossed, refusing to contest the opening 30 seconds.

Their actions are being backed by the Bom Senso F.C. organization that has become a representative body for Brazilian footballers, the goal of which is to reduce the strain caused by so many matches.

Vitoria and Cruzeiro began their encounter in this manner, although by the final whistle none of the blue-shirted players or their supporters could conceive of standing still.

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Most leagues have an all-encompassing star attraction, a character seen by fans as a representative of the competition as a whole, not only of one club.

For Spain read Lionel Messi; England, Robin van Persie; in Germany, Thomas Mueller. In Brazil, prior to his summer switch, the name was obvious: Neymar.

But since his highly publicised and drawn-out transfer to Barcelona, the burden has fallen onto the shoulders of 37-year-old Clarence Seedorf. Often seen as a factory line of outgoing talent, the arrival of one of the most successful players in European history has boosted Brazil's domestic game immeasurably.

The former Dutch international may be at the end of his career, but it remains a major coup not only for his club, Botafogo, but for the Brazilian championship as a whole.

Seedorf did it all in Europe. The only player to win the Champions League with three different clubs, Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan, he pulled on the shirt of other European giants, including playing for Milan's city rivals, Internazionale.

Most players would be hanging up their boots, giving themselves an admitted well-deserved pat on the back for a glittering 20-year career, but Seedorf has instead decided to embrace a new challenge. And the dynamism with which he has conducted himself this season shows his hunger for the game is as evident as ever.

The Brazilian season runs from the end of January to mid-December. Seedorf arrived in July 2012 with the season already over halfway through.

This year was his first full season as a Botafogo player, and he has made an awesome impact. He helped the club to the Campeonato Carioca, the Rio de Janeiro state championship, in May.

With six rounds remaining in the Campeonato Brasileiro, the club sit fourth in the national table, the final qualifying spot for the Copa Libertadores, which is the South American answer to the Champions League.

For much of the season Botafogo were going toe-to-toe with leaders Cruzeiro. A dip in form over the last seven weeks has left the Minas Gerais club as almost certain champions. But Seedorf has been the focal point of the Rio club's highs this year.

Botafogo is a young team. Teenage centre-back Doria is one of the most sought-after names in football, and the team also counts on midfielder Gabriel and attacker Hyuri who are in their first full season as professionals.

All have admitted in interviews that they look to Seedorf for advice and leadership at the club.

Because above all Seedorf is a team player, just one more in the group. Alongside goalkeeper Jefferson and central defender Bolivar he is one of the experienced heads of a promising squad, offering guidance and advice in the team's bid for a first national title since 1995, a feat that will go unrewarded for another year at least.

Clarence Seedorf is an observer, a perfectionist and above all a creator for others. But he is also a listener and took on board his new manager's advice, which has benefited the team enormously this term in his tactical switch.

During his last few years at Milan his position in the team had become increasingly withdrawn, to the point where he was playing as a deep-lying playmaker. Botafogo coach Oswaldo de Oliveira has changed that.

In Brazil he plays almost as a second striker, starting on the left-hand side and cutting in either to pass or shoot. His ease on the ball and range of passing has made him a valuable asset in the attacking third, chipping in with six goals and 15 assists during the league campaign.

The club suffered elimination from the Copa do Brasil in the quarter-finals at the hands of local rivals Flamengo. League form has dipped to the point where a once realistic title challenge has petered out and the club are desperately clinging onto Libertadores qualification.

But should they finish in the top four, they have the perfect protagonist to launch an audacious bid for continental conquests next year. One more string to stick in the evergreen Clarence Seedorf's illustrious bow.

In the end it wasn't close at all. The hype, the pre-match buildup, the “final.” None of it came to fruition on a night when Botafogo were outrun, outclassed and, fundamentally, outscored.

Cruzeiro's 3-0 demolition of their nearest rivals to the 2013 Brasileirao crown was frightening. The first half was a tense affair but the Minas side's deconstruction of Botafogo as the clock ticked down was telling.

This side is breaking records. Last night was their eighth successive Campeonato Brasileiro win. After 22 rounds the club have amassed 49 points, a record since the league format switched to round-robin in 2003, beating Sao Paulo's previous best of 47 set in 2007.

A brace from Julio Baptista and an excellent volley from Nilton, typically from a corner, were enough to see off a Botafogo side who, during the first half, at least attempted to make a decent fist of the contest.

Their lead over Botafogo in second place is now seven points. That advantage is by no means insurmountable with 16 matches remaining, but the psychological blow dealt by the leaders could have far-reaching consequences.

For now caution remains the official club word. “We are not champions yet. We are going to face difficulties in all the games. But we are on the right path to success,” said Baptista, sensibly diverting the euphoria of the fans at the final whistle.

Botafogo's lifeline came on 53 minutes. Rafael Marques was fouled in the area by Bruno Rodrigo, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Clarence Seedorf, the veteran, who has been there, done that and bought the proverbial t-shirt all over Europe. Botafogo fans would have bet their mortgage on him equalising.

He sent his spot-kick wide of the post after only managing to connect with his ankle, and the players visibly deflated. Walking from the pitch at the end Seedorf offered an apology.

“My penalty was an important moment in the game. I apologise. We didn't manage to turn our chances into goals and Cruzeiro did,” he said.

Botafogo were missing key defender Doria through suspension, and his replacement Andre Bahia was showing signs of nerves. Twice he left Borges and Willian with too much space and was only saved by partner Bolivar and goalkeeper Jefferson.

The visitors could barely catch their breath. Botafogo's most consistent attacking outlet during the first half was right-back Edilson. He was involved in creating the side's best chance of the half, but Cruzeiro keeper Fabio was equal to Elias' effort, tipping the ball away for a corner.

But the home side continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession. Their main threat, from set pieces and corners, was yielding next to nothing as Botafogo dealt admirably with anything launched into or around their penalty area.

Until first-half stoppage time and the final corner before the interval. Nilton managed to free himself from the attentions of Marcelo Mattos and sent a sweetly struck volley into the right-hand corner of the net.

Both sides came out unchanged for the second half and Botafogo's key moment came and went with Seedorf's penalty miss. The fight went out of the team.

Substitutions were made on both sides, but none had a more telling impact on the match than that of Julio Baptista for Borges.

After just minutes on the pitch the referee awarded Cruzeiro a non-existent penalty when Everton Ribeiro went down under a challenge from Bolivar.

Baptista took the kick and the ball squirmed its way under the body of the diving Jefferson. Oswaldo de Oliveira's three changes of Alex, Hyuri and Henrique for Elias, Renato and Rafael Marques bore no such fruit.

The fans inside the stadium were already in fine voice before Baptista's second put the icing on the cake three minutes from time. The party started. Cruzeiro couldn't be stopped.

The home fans began a chance of “Adeus, Fogo,” bidding their opponents a delirious goodbye. On this evidence, they may well have been talking about their title challenge rather than the evening's outcome.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Whilst Europe's major leagues are just returning after the summer hiatus, Brazil's national championship, the Campeonato Brasileiro, is about to arrive at the business end of the season as the tournament enters its second half.

And tomorrow night promises one of the most intriguing contests remaining on the domestic calendar.

Cruzeiro v Botafogo is already being touted as a “final” between the clubs that have become the two favourites for the title. The teams lie in first and second place respectively in the Brazilian league table after 21 rounds; Cruzeiro are currently four points ahead of their Rio rivals and are in magnificent form.

They have won seven matches in a row, have scored more goals than anyone else and have a side studded with experience and youthful exuberance. Before the national season started Cruzeiro signed arguably the best centre-back plying his trade in Brazil, Dede, from Vasco da Gama.

Vasco's financial woes forced them to sell their greatest asset and the man known as Mito, “Myth” has become part of the bedrock of a Cruzeiro defence that has conceded just 19 goals in 21 games.

Cruzeiro are a big, strong and physically intimidating side who pose a worrying danger at set pieces. The likes of Dede, Bruno Rodrigo and holding midfielder Nilton are major assets in the air. The latter scored the game's only goal on Saturday as they defeated fourth placed Atletico-PR to maintain their unbeaten start to life at the Mineirao, Belo Horizonte's biggest stadium renovated in preparation for next year's World Cup.

But in forward players Willian and Ricardo Goulart they have the type of small and tricky forwards who are the perfect contrast to the burly Borges or former Real Madrid player Julio Baptista. Cruzeiro have played 19 home matches this calendar year, and 18 have ended in victory with a solitary draw. They have done what any champion must—turned their home into a fortress.

But Botafogo are right behind them and are in good nick too. Unbeaten in five, they have won their last four, including a gutsy 2-1 win away to Libertadores-chasing Santos on Sunday evening.

Coach Oswaldo de Oliveira has done an excellent job over the last year and a half building a side not over reliant on any particular sector. The Champions League's most successful player, Clarence Seedorf, is the team's number 10 and it would have been easy to allow his presence to skew formation and tactics.

Instead, de Oliveira has moulded Seedorf into the team rather than vice versa. Whilst Cruzeiro are probably Brazil's most powerful side, Botafogo are without doubt the country's most balanced team, and especially threatening on the counter attack thanks to the passing accuracy of their midfield.

Goalkeeper Jefferson is the second choice national goalkeeper, and with Julio Cesar opting to stay with QPR in the Championship, could make the No. 1 jersey his before June.

In Doria, Botafogo have the best young central defender in the country by a long shot. Strong, quick and not afraid to have the ball at his feet, the 18-year-old has a massive future in the game.

During the European summer transfer window the teenager was linked with moves to Juventus, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. If he gets his hands on a trophy with Botafogo this year he may well decide the time is right for a move, despite his young years.

But the team's principal strength lays in attacking midfield. The veteran Seedorf is paired with Uruguayan playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro and the pair are the main source of the side's goalscoring prowess, alongside Hyuri, who with three goals in two games is the latest promising youngster to win promotion from the Botafogo academy.

The team's sole weakness is in attack. Rafael Marques has eight goals in the Brasileiro campaign, and despite some fantastic finishes he can be culpable of missing gilt-edged chances.

Tomorrow cannot be an off day for Marques; another win for Cruzeiro would take them seven points clear at the top and deflate the clubs directly below them in the table.

The country is expected to come to a standstill at 9:50PM local time tomorrow night when the league's top two lock horns. It would be foolish to describe a game in the competition's 22^nd round as “season defining.” It could, however, go an awfully long way in deciding the fate of this year's trophy.

Ronaldinho's return to his best has been a joy to behold, and for many it was a joyous day when his Atletico Mineiro side won the Copa Libertadores earlier this year.

The 33-year-old looks as if he's having just as much fun as ever, judging by his two free-kicks in his side's 2-2 draw with Fluminense in the Brazilian Championship.

It was all the more impressive given that Ronaldinho had been missing from the lineup with injury in the previous match—a thigh injury had been hampering him, according to Sambafoot.

Atletico Mineiro were down twice in the match—but on both occasions Ronaldinho bailed them out of trouble.

It's not easy to pick a favourite finish. The first was pinpoint—struck crisply and powerfully, and leaving the goalkeeper stranded as it crashed in via the underside of the crossbar.

The second goal was no less high class. Ronaldinho dinked the ball narrowly over the wall and high into the far corner—again, the goalkeeper stood motionless, bewitched by the placement of the shot.

Perhaps what the first strike has in the way of hitting the woodwork and still going in is cancelled out by the match circumstances of the second goal—Atletico Mineiro are struggling in Brazil's Serie A this season, and victory for Fluminense would have lifted them above their rivals as the relegation battle warms up.

Whichever your favourite of the two is, though, it's good to see Ronaldinho's trademark smile as he enjoys the autumn of his career.

In one of the most stunning displays of brilliance that we've seen in quite some time, Brazil defeated Spain by a score of 3-0 in the FIFA Confederations Cup Final. While some might be quick to say this was a lopsided affair, the tensions were as high as we could've asked them to be.

However, once the smoke had cleared and the dust had settled, one thing was clear—Neymar truly is one of the world's elite.

Neymar entered the tournament with mountains of pressure, as Brazil was the host country, and he'd recently been transferred to the famed FC Barcelona. Preparing to play alongside Lionel Messi, the level of expectation was higher than Neymar had ever experienced.

Let's just say that he rose to the occasion.

That's what you call basking in the glory of a moment.

With four goals in five appearances at the Confederations Cup, Neymar led Brazil to an undefeated run to the title. While this may not have been the World Cup, a win over the top-ranked team in the world is a win.

Plain and simple, no one has a reason to question his legitimacy at this stage of the game.

Elite Playmaker

At the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, Brazil faced the likes of Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and Uruguay. In that time, the Brazilians went undefeated, receiving a brilliant performance from Neymar every time out.

In five games, Neymar tallied four goals and two assists en route to numerous post-tournament honors.

Hate him or love him, this young man can play.

Neymar has a long way to go before he enters the conversation of the world's best, as that moniker still belongs to the duo of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. With that being said, the 21-year-old proved that he's not as far off as some may have believed.

Suddenly, Barcelona's latest signing looks like more than just a complementary piece.

Working with Messi

Perhaps nothing has taken the world football community by storm than the news that Neymar will be joining FC Barcelona. Already a star-studded squad fronted by Messi, Barcelona, with the addition of Neymar, is beyond intriguing for what this duo could do together.

For those who questioned their compatibility, the Confederations Cup should put an end to those concerns.

Neymar was sensational as a goal scorer, but it was his ability to create for his teammates that truly wowed those in attendance. Not only could he make stellar plays in the open field, but Neymar routinely split elite defenses to find his man in stride.

If he's able to do so with Messi on the receiving end, Neymar will be amongst La Liga's leading assist men.

Furthermore, Neymar proved that he can create his own shot and finish off of feeds from his teammates. While some had questioned Neymar's ability to handle a backseat role to Messi, we learned something else at the Confederations Cup.

This may be more of a two-man system than we'd previously believed.