Palmeiras take another stride towards title – Adriano brace makes him top scorer

Palmeiras' Cleiton Xavier, Vagner Love and Diego Souza celebrate another win

Muricy Ramalho’s Palmeiras came from behind to take all three points against Santos in the Vila Belmiro. The 3-1 win left the Palestra Itália outfit five clear at the top and even with 11 rounds to go, it’s difficult to see anyone dislodging Palmeiras from their position as leaders.

On Sunday, Palmeiras dominated the first period but Santos went ahead early in the second-half with Luizinho. But then goals from Diego Souza, Robert and Vagner Love gave the Greens the win they thoroughly deserved. See the highlights

On Wednesday, São Paulo beat Náutico 2-1 in Recife to move 2^nd.

Atlético Mineiro kept their title hopes alive after a 2-1 win against Barueri in Belo Horizonte. Brazil man Diego Tardelli put away his 14^th of the competition.

Goiás wasted a good chance to return to second place after a surprise 3-1 loss to strugglers Botafogo. The win was Botafogo’s first in 11 outings in the league but the Rio side remain in the relegation zone.  

Internacional slipped further behind after a 1-0 loss away at Coritiba. Marcos Aurelio grabbed the match’s only goal.

Flamengo climbed to 6^th after putting local rivals and bottom club Fluminense to the sword in the Maracanã. 82,000 – the highest gate of the season – packed into the stadium to see Adriano hit the target twice and become the league’s top scorer with 15. See the goals

Ronaldo’s Corinthians crashed to their second home defeat in a row after going down 3-1 to Atlético Paranaense. The Curitiba club had lost their last four away from home but took the lead in the Pacaembu with a cracker from Paulo Baier. Wallyson then doubled the score. A stunned Corinthians came back after Ronaldo’s free kick fell to substitute Jucilei. But the visitors killed off the match after Felipe made a mess of Wesley’s low strike. See the goals

Botafogo, Sport, Náutico and Fluminense occupy the bottom four.

To see the Campeonato Brasileiro round 27 table and the rest of the results, go here