It’s the time of year when floodlights fail, bus drivers mysteriously get lost and teams accidentally go onto the field wearing the same colour kit as their opponents.

The final round of the Brazilian championship is played on Sunday with the title, two Libertadores Cup places and first division survival for another six teams at stake.

Leaders Sao Paulo, three points clear of Gremio at the top, need a point away to Goias to win their third successive title. Gremio face Atletico Mineiro at home.

Both are already guaranteed to play in next year’s Libertadores while Cruzeiro and Palmeiras should take the other two spots, although fifth-placed Flamengo still have a chance of sneaking in.

At the other end of the table, any two of Fluminense, Santos, Nautico, Atletico Paranaense, Figueirense and Vasco da Gama could join already-relgated Ipatinga and Portuguesa in the second tier.

To ensure a fair fight, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has ordered that all matches will kick off at the same time.

But can they enforce it? Past experience shows it will be a difficult job.

Brazil has a long history of mishaps on such days, which result in certain matches starting late.

Floodlights mysteriously go out; buses break down on their way to the stadium or the drivers somehow manage to take a wrong turn. Another favourite is for the visiting team to turn out in the wrong kit. They then waste time by going back into the dressing room to get changed.

Last season, the games involving relegation candidates Corinthians and Goias both started around 20 minutes late. Corinthians simply took their time entering the field while Goias managed to delay their kick off by taking dozens of children onto the pitch with them.

The CBF has threatened to fine teams 10,000 Reais per minute ($4,000) for each delay but compared to the millions a team will lose in reduced television rights, gate receipts and marketing revenue if they go down, it may be a price that teams are prepared to pay to gain an advantage.

Gremio have already cried foul over a decision to hand Goias a two-match home ban following crowd problems at an earlier game and make them play Sao Paulo in Brasilia. Gremio say that Sao Paulo have a huge fan base in the capital, which effectively makes them the home side.

Meanwhile, fans of Flamengo daubed a message on the wall of the club’s headquarters ordering them to lose to Atletico Paranaense, a result which would increase the chances of Flamengo’s arch-rivals Vasco being relegated.

It’s going to be a tense day.