Ladies & Gentlemen, this weekend marks the opening weekend of the 2009 Serie A of the Campeonato Brasileiro. It is more commonly known as the Brasileirão and features 20 of Brazil's top clubs passing, scoring, and tackling in search of the title of "Best Team In Brazil." The state tournaments are over and now the big national tournament can begin.

This year's Brasileirão will be full of star power with familiar faces from Europe's big clubs and South America's national teams. We have to start with 2009 Paulista State Champions and the return of O Fenômeno, Ronaldo. The former Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, AC Milan striker has recovered his scoring touch after knee injuries to help Corinthians become the early favorites to unseat São Paulo. Timão are back in the Serie A after winning the Serie B championship last year.

The star power has returned to Flamengo as Adriano has returned home. Its obvious that O Imperador was not happy in Italy and good for him that he wants to play football in his hometown. If his football reflects his happiness than Adriano will be giving the 2009 Carioca State Champions a massive boost on & off the pitch.

Grêmio should have a formidable goal scoring tandem with Ex-River Plate & Barcelona striker Maxi Lopez and Colombian international Edixon Perea up top. However, São Paulo's toughest competition may come from Grêmio's most bitter rival, in-state nemesis, Sport Club Internacional. The 2008 Copa Sudamericana champions have an attacking trio of Andres D'Alessandro, Nilmar, and teenage sensation Taison that make O Colorado Gaucho a legitimate threat to Sao Paulo's dominance.

Former Lyon striker Fred replaces Washington at Fluminense with 1994 World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira leading Tricolor Carioca from the sidelines. The 2008 Copa Libertadores runners-up still have playmakers Argentine Dario Conca and young stud Thiago Neves to torment defenses

As for the three-peat champions São Paulo, they added Washington from Fluminense. The man known as Coração Valente or Brave Heart as already paid dividends by scoring 14 goals in 18 matches with the Tricolor Paulista during the Paulista State Tournament. Their core players like Hernanes, Jean, Andre Dias, and Miranda continue to make Muricy Ramalho's squad the team to beat in Brazil. São Paulo will be hurt by the loss of icon keeper Rogerio Ceni who is expected to miss their Copa Libertadores run and a good chunk of the '09 Brasileirão with a knee injury.

The clubs promoted to the Brasileirão for 2009 were: Avaí Futebol Clube of Florianópolis in the island state of Santa Catarina, Corinthians the 2008 Serie B Champions, 3rd Place in the 2008 Serie B tournament Grêmio Recreativo Barueri of the state of São Paulo, and 2008 Serie B runners-up & '04 Copa Do Brasil champs Santo André of the state of São Paulo.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to everyone and keep logging on to Mad About Fútbol as we follow Brazil's biggest tournament with weekly roundups of all the action from 2009 Serie A of Campeonato Brasileiro.