Three games open the A Series of the Brazil National Soccer League (Brasileirão) tonight. A tour de force that lasts seven months and which, for some teams, overlaps with Copa do Brasil and the Libertadores Cup, Brasileirão – or Big Brazilian – features 20 teams in each of its two series. The B series games started yesterday.

The beginning of the tournament is a welcome break from the week’s soccer buzz in Brazil – Ronaldo's most recent personal blunders, commented on by Alan Hylands, About.com Guide to World Soccer, in his blog last Sunday.

Náutico v. Goiás in Recife, Vitória v. Cruzeiro in Salvador and São Paulo v. Grêmio in São Paulo all kick off at 6:10 pm São Paulo time (5:10 ET). São Paulo coach Muricy Ramalho doesn't usually confirm the lineup in advance, but at least São Paulo fans know they can count on goalkeeper/goal scorer Rogério Ceni, winner of CBF’s Best Brasileirão Player, Best Goalkeeper and Fan's Choice Awards in 2007, for the 2008 season.

Photo ©Bruno Miani/VipComm - Rogerio Ceni.com.br