Sao Paulo went into the game knowing they would go top of the table if they grabbed all three points as Corinthians and Flamengo play each other tomorrow.
Before the match, Rodrigo Ceni was handed a plaque by officials from both the club and the league to commemerate his 1000th league appearance.
This certainly had the right effect on the players as Sao Paulo stole a quick lead after just 24 seconds. After poor defending from the visitors, Dagoberto was able to square the ball off the defenders into the path of Lucas, who finished under the keeper from eight yards.
The party had already begun for the Tricolor after this early opener thinking Atletico, who are struggling in the relegation zone, wouldn’t be able to get back into the game.
However, on the 10th minute, the party came crashing down to earth. A corner from the left side was met by the towering head of Rever who directed the ball neatly into the corner, giving the visitors a surprise equaliser and leaving Ceni helpless.
Sao Paulo struggled to dominate against the team from Belo-Horizonte with them winning their last two games and Ceni was forced into two good saves from Souza and Carvelho.
Sao Paulo did have some chances though with Dagoberto going close on the half-hour mark after the defence failed to clear, but the jeers at half-time from the home crowd shows this wasn’t a great performance so far from O Mais Querido.
The second half began in the same fashion with both teams showing an attacking threat.
It was a moment of pure brilliance on the 52nd minute wihich gave Sao Paulo the lead. Dagoberto recevied the ball 25 yards out from the left side, and given time and space to shoot by the defence, Dagoberto unleashed an amazing long range effort which Renan Ribiero stood no chance with.
This seemed to settle the home side and the difference in class between the two sides soon became apparent with Lucas Moura using his influence well in the midfield.
But the visitors were prepared to scrap for a result and while the game lacked goal-scoring chances, the midfield battle became more intriguing as the game went on. The home side struggled to bring Carlinhos into the match as Atletico did well to defend in numbers and block the home side out.
Sao Paulo manager Batista brought on the experienced Rivaldo for Cicero and the substitution almost paid off straight away. The former Brazil international collected the ball in midfield, drove towards the goal before releasing it to Dagoberto, whos deflected effort went narrowly over in the 65th minute.
Atletico were getting more of the ball towards the last ten minutes of the game but looked clueless with it in the final third. Their chances of getting back into the match was diminished with ten minutes to go when captain Leonardo Silva was given a straight red for a dangerous tackle. He jumped into the challenge which was considered an illegal tackle by the referee.
Sao Paulo almost added to their lead when Rivaldo played a beautiful ball across the box towards Dagoberto. He tried to flick it over the keeper and while he got the height right, he put the effort a yard wide three minutes from time.
While Atletico threatened an equaliser in the last minutes of injury time, the result rarely looked in doubt as Sao Paulo continue their title hunt this season with an important home win.
