South America preview: Can São Paulo stay ahead of Flamengo in Brazil?

São Paulo is trying to claim its first Campeonato Brasileiro Série A title in a decade. Flamengo is right behind them at the midpoint of this year’s battle.

What is happening with the beautiful game around South America this weekend? Let’s look at all the soccer action taking place around the continent, beginning with the approaching midpoint of the domestic season in Brazil.

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A

From 2006 through 2008, São Paulo dominated their competition in Brazilian club soccer. Since that run of three straight Campeonato Brasileiro Série A titles, though, the Tricolor have struggled to regain their place atop the Brazilian domestic league table. São Paulo finished second behind Cruzeiro in 2014, but over the past few years they have been at or below mid-table. The 13th-place finish by São Paulo was the worst finish by the club in two decades.

But out of the darkness emerged some resolution and rebirth, because São Paulo is sitting at the top of league play midway through the Série A season. With matches against Chapecoense and Paraná coming up next, there is little reason to think that the leaders won’t still be atop the table this time next week.

With the team rebuilt after its tragic plane crash en route to the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final in Colombia in November 2016, Chapecoense is now fighting to stay in the top flight and currently sits 13th in the table. Paraná, on the other hand, has nowhere but up to go as they approach the midpoint of the season in 20th place.

So there is no reason to think that São Paulo is going to drop either match. But strange things inevitably happen over the course of a full season. And even one draw opens the door for Flamengo to swoop in and take over first place in Série A. The Mengão face 19th-place Atlético Paranaense and 16th-place Vitória, so they too should have little issue finding goals and victories against their opponents.

It is a tight title race that still features plenty of matches left to play. This will remain a race worth watching for fans of both clubs, as well as Internacional and Grêmio.

Superliga Argentina

Further south, we are still just warming up into the new season in Argentina. As we approach the second matchday of the young Superliga season, there are several key matchups on tap. On Friday, Rosario Central tries to maintain a perfect record to date when they take on winless Talleres Córdoba. Central’s rival, Newell’s Old Boys, hosts Independiente in the late match on Friday. Newell’s lost 2-0 in their opener, while Independiente has yet to take the pitch in Superliga action this season.

The biggest matches, though, come later in the weekend. San Lorenzo and Lanús square off on Sunday evening, as do Racing Club and Vélez Sarsfield. Monday action pits a pair of Copa Libertadores contenders against one another when Estudiantes hosts Boca Juniors.

It is dangerous to read too much into early-season results, but so far only Boca Juniors managed to win the first matchday among Argentine clubs still in the Copa Libertadores. The defending champions will look to continue their run of good form on Monday as the weekend action wraps up in Argentina.

Primera División de Chile

South American soccer has no set calendar, which means that Chile is approaching the final third of its season while their neighbor to the east is just getting their season started. The 20th matchday approaches in the Primera División de Chile, and a few matches could help shuffle the table further.

The biggest match of the week comes on Saturday, when fourth-place Antofagasta hosts third-place Unión La Calera. Currently Unión La Calera occupies the last Copa Libertadores qualifying spot, but the two clubs are level on points. A draw or a victory would keep Unión La Calera in third, while Antofagasta could leapfrog their opponents with a win at home.

Universidad de Chile and O’Higgins play one another in another matchup of top-seven contenders. With Unión Española lurking only a point behind and playing relegation risk San Luis this weekend, O’Higgins needs a win badly to stay in contention for the final Copa Sudamericana spot.

Universidad Católica and Universidad de Concepción both face clubs in the bottom half of the table, so things should ostensibly remain the same at the top of the table.