The 2011 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, officially called Brasileirão Petrobras 2011 for sponsorship, was the 55th edition of Brazil's top professional football championship. The competition ran from May 21 to early December and saw the country's leading clubs compete in a national round-robin league. Fluminense entered the season as the defending champion from 2010.

Format and participants

The tournament followed the familiar double round-robin format: 20 clubs played each other twice, once at home and once away, with a win earning three points, a draw one point and a loss none. The final table determined the national champion, qualification for continental competitions and relegation. The highest-placed teams earned places in the following year's Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, while the bottom four were relegated to Série B for the next season.

Clubs and context

The 2011 field included many of Brazil's traditional powers — for example, Corinthians, Fluminense, Santos, São Paulo, Palmeiras, Flamengo, Internacional and Grêmio — alongside clubs promoted from Série B. Teams varied widely in budget and ambition, with some focused on continental qualification and others battling to avoid relegation.

Season summary

Corinthians won the 2011 title in a campaign that attracted national attention because the team completed the league season without losing a match — an uncommon achievement in modern Brazilian football. Managed by Tite, Corinthians combined a compact defence with effective counterattacking play and consistent results across the season. Their unbeaten title is one of the most frequently cited talking points from the year.

Notable aspects and legacy

  • The season reinforced the importance of squad depth and tactical consistency in a long, national league spanning many climates and travel distances.
  • Sponsorship and television deals continued to shape the calendar and exposure of the competition; the official name reflected a major corporate partner.
  • Promotion, relegation and continental qualification stakes kept the table competitive throughout the calendar, with late-season battles for places common.

For an official overview and historical records of the championship, see the competition page: Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.