Ikhtisar UM Escobedo

In a landmark ruling that has sent shockwaves through South American football, Internacional defender Victor Gabriel has been suspended from all competitive action until his opponent recovers from a serious injury. The Brazilian Superior Court of Sports Justice handed down the unprecedented sanction following a challenge that left Cruzeiro forward Gabriel Pec with a broken leg.

Midweek opportunities in the Brazilian Serie A allow us to capitalise on teams with strong attacking and defensive profiles. We assess the key ones.

Jesse Lingard’s first start for Corinthians ended in disappointment as the Brazilian giants slumped to a damaging 1-0 home defeat against Internacional at the Neo Quimica Arena. The result extended the team's winless run to nine games in all competitions. It proved fatal for ex-Brazil national team boss Dorival Junior, who was dismissed by the club’s hierarchy immediately following the match.

Former Fulham and Benfica striker Carlos Vinicius managed to turn an already simmering Brazilian derby into a full-blown riot with nothing more than a plastic water bottle. Representing Gremio in the second leg of the Campeonato Gaucho final against arch-rivals Internacional, the Brazilian forward proved he hasn't lost his knack for getting under the skin of his opponents.