Fortaleza is the new leader of the Brasileirão after winning against Corinthians and taking advantage of the draw between Botafogo and Bahia. The battle for the top of the table is intense after 24 matchdays, with four teams separated by just four points.
The Northeast team has five consecutive victories and remains unbeaten in ten matches in the tournament. Their latest victim was Corinthians, their next opponent in the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana, whom they defeated 1-0 at home thanks to a goal from Yago Pikachu 13 minutes before the end.
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This victory places them in first position with one match pending and one point more than Botafogo, who could not break the goalless draw in their visit to Bahia. Fogão played that match on Saturday, 72 hours after qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores in a dramatic finish against Palmeiras.
Verdão bounced back from that elimination with a 5-0 thrashing of Cuiabá, thanks to a masterful performance from Estêvão Willian after his first call-up to the Brazil senior national team. The young player scored two goals and provided two assists for the São Paulo team, which is in third place, four points behind Fortaleza.
Flamengo also ended up with the same points after beating Bragantino 2-1, with a goal from debutant Michael and another own goal from Raul. The Cariocas did not have their coach Tite on the bench, who is recovering at home from an arrhythmia suffered after returning from La Paz with the qualification to the Libertadores quarter-finals in hand.
São Paulo is also in that stage of the continental tournament, sitting fifth, seven points off the lead after defeating Vitória 2-1 at home. William Gomes and Erick were the scorers for the team managed by Luis Zubeldía.
Fluminense escapes the relegation zone
In a full recovery after the arrival of Mano Menezes to the bench and Thiago Silva to the defense, Fluminense won 2-0 away against Atlético Mineiro, leaving the relegation zone for the first time this season. Ecuadorian Kevin Serna and Colombian Jhon Arias were the scorers against their next Libertadores rival.
The two biggest teams in Porto Alegre also moved away from the red zone by each securing a victory. Grêmio won 1-0 away against Criciúma, while Inter did the same by defeating Cruzeiro 1-0 at home.
The bottom team remains Atlético Goianiense, although they feel more relieved after winning 2-1 against Juventude in a match where both teams ended with ten players. It was the second consecutive victory for the team managed by Umberto Louzer.
The matchday will conclude with the duel between Athletico Paranaense and Vasco da Gama.
