Leaders Palmeiras crash at Náutico. São Paulo go down to Flamengo

A dejeted looking Souza and Marcos as Náutico thrash the leaders 3-0

Despite a shock 3-0 loss at strugglers Náutico, Palmeiras remain five points clear at the top of the Brasileiro with nine games to go. As usual when the Palestra Itália outfit slip up, none of their main rivals were able to take advantage as no one in the top five managed to win.

In Recife, Palmeiras were without first choice strikers Vagner Love and Obina plus Diego Souza. Relegation-threatened Náutico took full advantage and goals from Cláudio Luiz and a brace from Bruno Mineiro secured three very valuable points. See the goals

São Paulo also managed to lose away at Flamengo. Against the run of play, the Morumbi team went ahead when a superb long ball from Dagoberto picked out Hernanes who rounded Bruno in style. Fla’s equaliser came after Jorge Wagner was adjudged to have caught Toró in the area. Rogério Ceni, though, stopped Petkovic’s first effort but the assistant referee said the keeper had moved off his line too soon – replays showed he hadn’t. The Fla man made no mistake with the second strike.

Pet and Fla were to have the final say. A brilliant through ball found Zé Roberto and Ceni and São Paulo were sunk. Flamengo moved to 6^th just two points off the top four. See the highlights  

Internacional could only manage a 1-1 draw with Atlético Paranaense. Patrick had put the visitors ahead but Alecsandro salvaged a point with a minute remaining on the clock. 

In the big derby in the Mineirão, Wellington Paulista’s goal settled the matter between Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro. After a terrible start, Cruzeiro have now zoomed up the table to 7^th and are just five points off the Libertadores places. See the goal

Goiás were expected to beat bottom four side Sport Recife but were held to 1-1 draw in Goiania.

At the bottom, Fluminense came out on top in the relegation six-pointer against Santo André. A 2-1 win gave Flu their first away victory of the season but the Rio team remain bottom.

See the Campeonato Brasileiro round 29 table and the rest of the results here