Palmeiras picked up their 11th Brasileiro Serie A title as this season rounds up today, Juventude amongst others sent back down.
From the streets of Zambia to becoming the biggest ambassador of Zambian football, Lameck Banda’s rise to fame has been astronomical.
Internacional’s win ensured they finished third place ahead of Fernando Diniz’s Fluminense side who also won their final game of the season.
Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana
The rest of the sides that qualified automatically for next season’s Copa Libertadores[South American equivalent of the UEFA Champions league] are Corinthians, Athletico and Flamengo. Atletico Mineiro and Fortaleza qualified for the playoff round as they finished seventh and eight respectively.
Five teams qualified for the Copa Sudamericana[South American equivalent of the Europa league], they are Sao Paulo, America Mineiro, Botafogo, Santos and Goias
Relegation
Avai were the only recently promoted side to be relegated, with Botafogo, Coritiba, and Goias booking a spot for another season in the top flight
Atletico Goianiense, Ceara and last place Juventude all join Avai in the brazilian second tier next season
All four teams had their fate sealed before the final match day of the season as they had all been mathematically relegated.
League awards
German Cano of Fluminense picked up the top scorer award after finding he back of the twenty-six times, seven goals better than the next man, a tally he made sure to extend on the final matchday of the season, scoring his sides’ only goal against Red bull Bragantino
Gustavo Scarpa, the 28 year old Palmeiras playmaker, led the league in assists and big chances created, twelve and sixteen respectively.
Weverton led the league in clean sheets with 16, justifying his inclusion in Tite’s Selecao, the Palmeiras 34 year old shot stopper has been a wall all season and was crucial in the title charge of his team.
The league returns on next year with four new faces, some more familiar than others,Cruzeiro, Gremio, Vasco da Gama and Bahia earning top flight football next season.