Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Ponte Preta 1st with 36 points, Monte Azul 14th with 14, 22 apart. Monte Azul had been over-performing their table position on recent form: 4th in the league over the last five rounds against 14th overall. In league terms the two rates read 1.93/0.93 for Ponte Preta and 1.2/1.8 for Monte Azul (scored/conceded per game); the competition average is 1.27.
Ponte Preta arrived on a run of three straight wins. Over the last five, Ponte Preta had taken 10 of 15 points to Monte Azul's 4.
The match was played at Estádio Moisés Lucarelli in Campinas (capacity 19,722). Half-time and full-time told different stories: Ponte Preta led 1-0 at the break, before 2 more goals closed it at 3-0.